Exploring Our Timeline: 13 Billion Years Ago and Now

[Steve K]

The Webb Telescope is finding images from the early beginnings of our universe, indeed from nearly 13 billion years ago. That is fascinating, but, what is happening right at this moment in our timeline, in those locations giving astronomers 13 billion year old information? I ask, because the locations exist right now, and I would assume are completely different now, than the images we see. We can only see what the speed of light let's us. I suppose there is no way to know without finding a way to time travel.

 

[phinds]

The Webb Telescope is finding images from the early beginnings of our universe, indeed from nearly 13 billion years ago. That is fascinating, but, what is happening right at this moment in our timeline, in those locations giving astronomers 13 billion year old information? I ask, because the locations exist right now, and I would assume are completely different now, than the images we see.

Correct

We can only see what the speed of light let's us. I suppose there is no way to know without finding a way to time travel.

Oh, good. You've answered your own question.

 

[Steve K]

Correct

Oh, good. You've answered your own question.

But that is the question of priority it seems. What is happenning right now, because, the space in the universe from 13 BYA exists. We will have to wait and see... but wouldn't it be astounding to know!

 

[Steve K]

But that is the question of priority it seems. What is happenning right now, because, the space in the universe from 13 BYA exists. We will have to wait and see... but wouldn't it be astounding to know!

Thank you, Phinds for your reply.

 

[phinds]

but wouldn't it be astounding to know!

Not especially. There are at present far more galaxies that are available to us, in various stages of evolution than we have time / equipment to study. It is quite a reasonable assumption that the ones furthest out are evolving in the same way, so it is doubtful that we would learn much if anything by "seeing them now".

It's far more informative seeing them, as we do, "then" rather than magically seeing them "now".

 

[pinball1970]

Thank you, Phinds for your reply.

If you are interested in Webb there is a thread that started in anticipation of the launch and followed journey to today.https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/the-james-webb-space-telescope.1010264/

There are also threads on age of the Universe and how they measure distant galaxies.
Everything regarding astrophysics and Cosmology in fact. Just use the magnifying glass top right to search.