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Sharon · F
Probably. They'd have to travel at near-light speeds to take advantage of the time dilation effect to be able to make the journey in their lifetime.
MrLuck · 31-35, M
Not possible even at the speed of light it takes around 50 million years to reach Andromida Galaxy
Sharon · F
@MrLuck: Time stops for an object travelling at the speed of light so the traveller wouldn't age. Look up the 'time dilation effect'.
Pureblossom · 26-30, F
Not anytime soon , but yes if we don't kill each other off first .The future future future future future generations will probably be able to .
canadarm · M
Not physically, no. Our Galaxy alone is 100,000 lightyears across so even at lightspeed it would take 100,000 years just to get across OUR galaxy!
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canadarm · M
@Sharon:
In answer to your question "what is that speed?"
My answer is "sufficient speed that would allow Time Dilation to affect the mission".
As you can see from the graph, there is not much action in TD until you get to about 1/2 c. You would need to go MUCH faster because the increase of TD is not linear with increased velocity.
Now about wormholes.
Even if there was conveniently an opening here and the exit near Andromeda: the fastest way down the river is over the waterfall!
In other words, like a black hole, we might not survive the encounter.
The forgotten aspect is Time.
We see Andromeda as it was 2.5 million years ago.
Even if we got there INSTANTLY right now: we would arrive at a galaxy evolved 2.5 million years from our initial view.
It could be long gone!
( unlikely but you see my point).
The farther out we look the longer ago it is.
The objects of our destination could be ancient history right now.
[image/video deleted]
In answer to your question "what is that speed?"
My answer is "sufficient speed that would allow Time Dilation to affect the mission".
As you can see from the graph, there is not much action in TD until you get to about 1/2 c. You would need to go MUCH faster because the increase of TD is not linear with increased velocity.
Now about wormholes.
Even if there was conveniently an opening here and the exit near Andromeda: the fastest way down the river is over the waterfall!
In other words, like a black hole, we might not survive the encounter.
The forgotten aspect is Time.
We see Andromeda as it was 2.5 million years ago.
Even if we got there INSTANTLY right now: we would arrive at a galaxy evolved 2.5 million years from our initial view.
It could be long gone!
( unlikely but you see my point).
The farther out we look the longer ago it is.
The objects of our destination could be ancient history right now.
Sharon · F
@canadarm: I do know the equation but thanks for the graph, I couldn't find it immediately when I took a quick look for it.
I won't argue the science with you, I think we agree even at 0.5c TD is minimal, the effect only becomes useful at speeds much higher than that - 0.8c and greater I'd say.
I also accept wormholes are not likely to be a practical proposition. We'd need to either find a natural one with openings where we want them or contruct one artificially. Even if we find a way, constructing the other end could prove challenging. Also, as you say, where we want to go might not be there now.
I've raised that last point myself in relation to SETI. If we do detect signs of extra-terrestrial intellegent life, it will be as it was some considerable time ago.
Something else I hope we can agree on, physics is a fascinating subject. :)
I won't argue the science with you, I think we agree even at 0.5c TD is minimal, the effect only becomes useful at speeds much higher than that - 0.8c and greater I'd say.
I also accept wormholes are not likely to be a practical proposition. We'd need to either find a natural one with openings where we want them or contruct one artificially. Even if we find a way, constructing the other end could prove challenging. Also, as you say, where we want to go might not be there now.
I've raised that last point myself in relation to SETI. If we do detect signs of extra-terrestrial intellegent life, it will be as it was some considerable time ago.
Something else I hope we can agree on, physics is a fascinating subject. :)
canadarm · M
@Sharon: yes definitely and thank you for the great discussion.
I think we need our own YouTube Channel lol!
I think we need our own YouTube Channel lol!
siegfried · 46-50, M
we should start to travel from solar system to another. But between galaxies.....
Goralski · 56-60, M
No. ..we'll blow each other up long before that
MrLuck · 31-35, M
Yeah cold war is coming soon !
Maury · 26-30, F
Some believe we have mirror dimensions all within the same universe. Others contend there are many universes, I think they're kabbalah-ists, and others believe we are climbing a ladder of consciousness, and the universe is revealed as we traverse existence.
canadarm · M
They launched Voyager in 1977 and it just left OUR SOLAR SYSTEM in 2012!
canadarm · M
Andromeda is the closest and it is 2.5 MILLION light years away!!