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ONE
EVERY
YN.KOMAROV
THIS
FASCINATING
ASTRONOMY
MIR
R. KoMapoB
H o B a a 3aHHMarejibHa}i acrpouoMUH
Mir
Publishers
Moscow
First published 1985
Revised from the 1983 Russian edition
Ha amAuucKOM x3i>iKe
© H3ftaTenBCTBo «HayKa»,
FjiaBHan pejjaKijiiH <{>M3HKo-MaTeMaTH«iecK0H
jiHTcpaTypu, 1983, c H3MeneHHHMn
© English translation, Mir Publishers, 1985
Contents
Preface
1
V . I . Lenin, Collected. Works, Vol. 14, pp. 281-282.
Preface 9
What is Fascinating in
Astronomy
1
Robert Sheckley, Mindswap, New York, 1967, p.
145.
16 . Chapter 2
1
Richard Feynman, The Character oj Physical Law,
London, 1965 pp. 147-148.
What is Fascinating in Astronomy 17
1
Robert Sheckley, Up. cit., pp. 144-145.
What is Fascinating in Astronomy 19
1
Richard Feynman, Op. cit., p. 158.
What is Fascinating in Astronomy 21
• • • • •
Potaris Vega Sinus Polaris Vega Siritts
•
Sun Ns Sun
Photograph of Venus
8*
36 . Chapter 2
Poshekhonov's pendulum
Even so, not all the stars but only the brightest
ones can be. seen from on board u spaceship. The
dazzling sun light and the light, of the earth
obscure vision.
Seen from the earth, aII the stars are sparkling.
They seem to fades then light up again, all t,he
time changing in colour. The lower a star is to
the horizon, the stronger its scintillation.
Scintillation is also expressed by the presence
of the atmosphere. Before reaching our eye the
light emitted by a star passes through the atmo-
sphere which consists of masses of cold aud warm
air. The density of the air in an area of the
atmosphere depends on its temperature. Passing
from one area to another, light beams are refrac-
ted and the direction of their dispersal is chan-
ged with the result that they become concentra-
ted over some ureas of earth's surface and disper-
sed over others Since the air masses are constant-
ly moving, these areas change their position too,
and the observer on the earth sees the stars chan-
ging in brightness. B u t different colour beams
are not refracted similarly and intensification or
fading of colours does not occur simultaneously.
Other more complex optical factors may also
be responsible for 'he stars' scintillation.
The presence (>\ warm and cold layers in the air
and the tact J hat the air masses arc moving fast
tell on the quality of telescopic pictures as well.
What regions of (he earth provide optimal
conditions for astronomic observations? Are they
the best in the mountains, or on the plain, on
a gea coast or deep in the mainland, in the forest,
or 111 the desert? And in general what is better for
the astronomers, ten cloudless nights a month, or
I ho Solar Family 53
Orbital Paradoxes
We know that the motion of ceTestial bodies is
laid down in Kepler's laws and in Newton's law
of gravitation. These laws have become so much
part of our mentality that we can imagine our-
selves capable of foreseeing much in the motion
of space objects even without calculations,
on the strength of the physical contents of these
laws. Sometimes we can even succeed. 'But in
many cases calculations produce results widely
different from those we almost believed to be
obvious.
A spacecraft is to start from on board an arti-
ficial earth satellite, revolving around the pla-
I ho Solar Family 107
A Strange Coincidence
Let us now consider one curious phenomenon ty-
pical of many members of the solar family. We
know that the moon always shows us one and the
same face. In something like 28 days it makes
one revolution around the earth and one rotation
on its own axis.
It is precisely the coincidence in the periods of
rotation and revolution that explains why we in-
variably see the same side of the lunar sphere. But
is it really a coincidence?
Generally speaking, nature is not so favourably
disposed to such coincidences, and they indeed
occur very rarely. This is only logical since this
coincidence is too involved to be attributed to
chance. And if we come across an amazing concur-
126 . Chapter 2
The Universe
On moonless nights we get a clear view of the
nebulous strip of the Milky Way. This is our
Galaxy and it consists not of clusters of nebula
but of numerous stars, some 200 billions of them,
according to modern estimates. Travelling at a
speed of 300 000 kilometres per second, a ray
of light will pass its length in about 100 000 years.
Despite its stupendous size, the Galaxy is only
one among numerous starry islands in the uni-
verse. It has companions and the biggest of them
are the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Toge-
ther with the Galaxy they rotate around a com-
mon centre of mass. The Galaxy, the Magellanic
Clouds together with several other star systems,
including the Andromeda nebula, are referred
to as the local group of galaxies.
Modern telescopes and radiotelescopes, as well
as other means of astronomic observations, cover
a colossal area. Its radius is 10 to 12 billion light-
years. This area houses billions of galaxies which
form the Metagalaxy.
In the study of the infinitely diverse material
world science distinguishes objects, phenomena,
connections and interactions. On a larger scale,
it also sets apart notion? of the astronomic uni-
verse from those of the entire material world.
Academician Pyotr Fedoseyev. a leading So-
viet philosopher, writes:
Deep in the Universe 137-
Tn an Expanding Metagalaxy
It will be no exaggeration to say that the theory
of the expanding universe or Metagalaxy is one
of the most fascinating ones postulated in this
century.
It is based on the idea that the Metagalaxy
emerged about 15 to 20 billion years ago as 8
138 . Chapter 2
d ' c J b a
Analogy explaining the absence of a centre of an expanding
Metagalaxy
A Mysterious Background
When we observe the universe in visible light
we see stars, galaxies and galactic clusters, all
grouped in strictly delineated structures. A n in-
frared, ultraviolet and radio "view" of the cele-
stial sphere broadens our optical picture of the
universe dramatically. I n other words, all these
types of electromagnetic radiation are an im-
portant source of scientific information about
the objects emitting them. We cannot say the
same thing about the 3-degree background
radiation mentioned earlier and about the back-
ground X-ray radiation discovered i n the 1960s.
Just like the residual background radiation, the
X-ray radiation fills all space in all directions
and is highly isotropic. I t could be supposed that
the two isotropic constituents of the universe are
somehow interconnected, were it not for the fact
that they are caused by totally different physical
processes.
As to the origin of the residual radiation,
it has been studied fairly well by now. The origin
of the X-ray background is still a mystery.
The easiest thing would be to assume that the
X-ray background, which also has a diffuse com-
ponent, is caused by the bremsstrahlung ("brake
radiation") of the electrons in plasma filling in-
Deep in the Universe 149-
Explosions in Space
Until thirty or forty years ago astronomers be-
lieved that space objects did not change much
with time and that stars and galaxies developed
so slowly that no significant evolution could
occur in them within observable spans of time.
True, they knew about variable stars distingui-
shed by frequent changes in brightness, about
stars that were ejecting matter in violent proces-
ses, and about nova and supernova explosions
accompanied by the release of enormous amounts
of energy. All these phenomena attracted the
liveliest scientific interest, but were believed to
be episodic and of no major importance.
Tn the 1950s, however, this view was replaced
by the general conviction that nonstationary
phenomena were natural stages in the evolution
of matter in the universe playing a crucial role
in the life of space objects. A whole class of vio-
lent and even explosive events characterized by
colossal energy outputs were discovered. It was
found, in particular, that some galaxies were
sources of powerful radio emission.
156 . Chapter 2
A New Surprise
A unique object has been discovered in the con-
stellation Aquarius and designated SS 433. A study
of its radiation has lead to the amazing conclu-
sion that it is advancing towards the earth with
a speed of about 8 000 kilometres per second and
at the same time receding as rapidly. But we
know that a material body in real world cannot
simultaneously move in two opposite directions.
Such a thing can only be observed in a complex
170 . Chapter 2
What If?
Reaction
to
pressure
Pressure
on a Pressure on a surface
surface and reaction to pres-
sure
P (pressure on a surface)
F (force of
'reaction}
P (pressure on a surfacej
l'wo-dimensional creatures
I n a Shrinking Universe
As we have mentioned, our region of the universe,
the Metagalaxy, is expanding and the farther
a galaxy is away from us, the faster it is receding.
However, the equations of the theory of relativity
permit of a shrinking universe as well. Does the
fact that the Metagalaxy is expanding'and not
shrinking have any major significance? What
What if? 251
Space Mirages
An extraordinary space object, a double quasar,
was discovered in the constellation of Ursa Major
in the middle of 1979. The two quasars are situat-
ed at a small angular distance from each other
which corresponds to the actual distance of only
500 light-years. It has been registered under the
index Q 0957+561 A, B. Q stands for quasar,
the figures are the celestial coordinates and the
letters A and B show that it is a binary object.
The short distance between them is in itself
an amazing fact since quasars are distributed
more or less evenly and are considerable distances
apart. Even more amazing is that the two objects
look as much alike as twins. Their spectra are
identical, hence the chemical composition, and
even the intensity of individual spectral lines.
Furthermore, their spectra are also identical
in the ultraviolet region. Both quasars are recoil-
ing from the earth with the same speed—about,
0.7 of the speed of light, which means that the
objects are not simply projected on ; he same area
of the celestial sphere but are situated at exactly
Chapter A
"Ridiculous!"
"So that's how it is," Clay remarked with some
satisfaction and proceeded to destroy the table.
Ferry only snorted.
Clay was enjoying himself thoroughly: he
destroyed the table, then a stool, then another,
then a bedside table and then recreated one stool.
"Hey, wait!" Ferry cried. "Enough of his
nonsenss!"
"What's wrong?"
"You have no imagination whatsoever, that's
what. Create—destroy, destroy—create, just like
a kid. It's becoming boring."
"There's a kid in every one of us," Clay said.
"But still you could think up something more
interesting."
"All my life I've dreamed about a magic wand,"
Clay went on, paying no attention to Ferry.
" I t looks like I have it now but I can't think
of anything special to do with it. If only I had
this kind of toy when I was a boy."
"It's a toy to some, but to others..."
"What about your precious logic now?" Clay
wouldn't leave Ferry in peace. "How do you ex-
plain all this? Something has happened that
contradicts all laws, correct? But since all laws
have already been discovered, as certain indi-
viduals assert, then we must recognize the exis-
tence of something standing above the laws.
What do you say?"
" I say that you are right."
"What? Are you serious?"
" I ' m not in the laughing mood at all, Clay."
"Oh, keep your shirt on! It must be some new
paradox."
The Revolution Is Put. Off 295
suddenly.
He went closer to the ball.
" I ! you meant 'yes', then destroy..."
He looked around the room only to find that
it was practically empty. His glance lingered
on Ferry's face and a look of mischief came into
his eyes.
"Don't you even think about it!" Ferry sounded
really scared.
" W h y not?" asked Clay innocently, " I ' l l
'recreate' you afterwards."
"Yes, I know, it will be your own idea of me.
It won't be the same Ferry. No, thank you."
" O K , relax," Clay relented, and turned his
attention back to the sphere.
"If that was 'yes', then let there be a table
again."
The table was back the next second.
"Now we must find out what represents 'no'
and we can play a game I used to enjoy very
much when I was small. It was based on 'yes'
and 'no' answers."
" I t shouldn't be difficult to find out," Ferry
said and crossed the room to where Clay was
standing near the ball.
" W h a t will you do for a 'no'?"
The ball remained motionless and only changed
its colour from green to a poisonous yellow.
"What was all this about, witchcraft?" he in-
quired describing a wide semi-circle around the
room with his hand.
The yellow colour became even more poi-
sonous.
"Now you see how wrong you were when you
deplored the fact that there could be nothing
The Revolution Is Put. Off 297