Galaxies, part 1: Crash Course Astronomy #38

CrashCourse
29 Oct 201512:05
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script takes us on a captivating journey through the magnificent realms of galaxies, the building blocks of our universe. It delves into the early 20th-century debates about the true nature of these 'spiral nebulae' and how Edwin Hubble's groundbreaking observations unveiled their immense scale, forever expanding our cosmic horizons. The script explores the diverse shapes, sizes, and characteristics of galaxies, from majestic spirals to ellipticals formed through galactic collisions, peculiar formations, and irregulars. It highlights the dynamic processes that shape these celestial giants, including galactic cannibalism and the collision of entire galaxy systems, painting a vivid picture of the ever-evolving cosmos we inhabit.

Takeaways
  • 🌌 The Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in the universe, each containing billions or trillions of stars.
  • 🌟 Galaxies come in four main shapes: elliptical, spiral (like the Milky Way), peculiar, and irregular.
  • 💥 Elliptical galaxies are likely formed from the collision and merger of galaxies.
  • 🌊 Galactic collisions can distort the shape of galaxies, creating peculiar or ring-shaped galaxies.
  • 🌀 Spiral galaxies are flat, rotating disks of stars, gas, and dust, often with spiral arms and a central bulge.
  • 🔭 Observations of Cepheid variables in the Andromeda Galaxy by Edwin Hubble proved it was a separate galaxy far beyond the Milky Way.
  • 🍽️ Galaxies can grow in size by cannibalizing smaller galaxies, a process our Milky Way is currently undergoing.
  • 🛰️ Many galaxies have companion satellite galaxies, like the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds for the Milky Way.
  • ⚡ Active galaxies pour out far more energy than normal galaxies.
  • 🌎 Astronomy consistently demonstrates that our place in the universe is smaller and farther removed from the center than we might have thought.
Q & A

  • What are the four main types of galaxies described in the script?

    -The four main types of galaxies described are: elliptical, spiral, peculiar, and irregular.

  • How did our understanding of the universe change in the early 20th century?

    -In the early 20th century, astronomers realized that the "spiral nebulae" they observed were not part of the Milky Way galaxy, but rather entire galaxies themselves, vastly expanding our understanding of the scale of the universe.

  • What observation by Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason proved the existence of other galaxies?

    -Hubble and Humason observed the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and found Cepheid variable stars within it, allowing them to determine its distance as being much farther than the estimated size of the Milky Way, proving it was a separate galaxy.

  • What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes spiral galaxies?

    -Spiral galaxies are characterized by broad, flat, rotating disks of stars, gas, and dust, often with a central bulge of older stars and spiral arms.

  • How do elliptical galaxies differ from spiral galaxies?

    -Elliptical galaxies are typically puffy, elliptical or spherical in shape, lack gas and dust, and are populated by older, redder stars, contrasting with the defined structure and ongoing star formation in spiral galaxies.

  • What is the leading theory for how elliptical galaxies form?

    -The current thinking is that elliptical galaxies are the products of galactic collisions, where two galaxies collide and merge into a single, elliptical-shaped galaxy.

  • What are peculiar galaxies, and how do they form?

    -Peculiar galaxies are those with odd, distorted shapes due to collisions between galaxies. Their structure is disrupted by the gravitational effects of the collision.

  • What are some examples of irregular galaxies mentioned in the script?

    -The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, are examples of irregular galaxies with chaotic shapes mentioned in the script.

  • How do galaxies grow in size over time?

    -Galaxies can grow in size by cannibalizing or absorbing smaller galaxies that collide with them, incorporating their stars and gas into the larger galaxy.

  • What is the key takeaway about our place in the universe, according to the script?

    -The script suggests that astronomy consistently shows us that we are smaller and farther removed from the action than we thought, but it also reveals the grand and awe-inspiring nature of our place in the universe.

Outlines
00:00
🌌 The Milky Way: Our Galactic Neighborhood

This paragraph introduces the idea that our solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy, which was once thought to be the entirety of the universe. It discusses the early 20th-century debate between astronomers Harlow Shapley and Heber Curtis on whether the spiral nebulae observed in the sky were part of the Milky Way or separate galaxies. The key observation that settled the debate was Edwin Hubble's discovery that the Andromeda Nebula was in fact the Andromeda Galaxy, much farther away than previously thought, demonstrating the vast scale of the universe beyond our own galaxy.

05:00
🌟 The Formation and Types of Galaxies

This paragraph delves into the formation and classification of galaxies. It explains how galaxies likely formed from collapsing clouds of gas, acquiring a flat, rotating disk structure due to their initial spin. The four main types of galaxies are discussed: spiral (like the Milky Way), elliptical, peculiar (resulting from galactic collisions), and irregular. The paragraph also covers how elliptical galaxies may form from galactic collisions and mergers, as well as how galaxies can grow by cannibalizing smaller galaxies, providing examples of this process occurring in the Milky Way.

10:03
🔭 Exploring the Wonders of Galaxies

This paragraph continues discussing different types of galaxies, such as active galaxies and galaxy clusters. It highlights the significance of ongoing research and honest debate in expanding our understanding of the universe's vastness. The paragraph emphasizes how astronomy continually challenges our perceptions of our place in the cosmos, revealing the grand and awe-inspiring nature of the universe. Finally, it summarizes the key points covered in the video, including the different shapes of galaxies, their formation through collisions and mergers, and the Milky Way's growth by consuming smaller galaxies.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Milky Way Galaxy
The Milky Way Galaxy is the galaxy that contains our Solar System. It is described as our "neighborhood" in the vast universe. The script emphasizes that for a long time, astronomers thought the Milky Way was the entire universe until they discovered other galaxies. The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing billions of stars, gas, and dust.
💡Nebulae
Nebulae are clouds of gas and dust in space. In the early 20th century, astronomers were puzzled by faint, fuzzy objects in the sky that appeared as nebulae. These were later discovered to be entire galaxies outside the Milky Way. The script explains how the observation of the Andromeda Nebula (now known as the Andromeda Galaxy) helped resolve the debate about the existence of other galaxies.
💡Galaxies
Galaxies are vast systems of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravitational forces. The script discusses the different types of galaxies, including spiral, elliptical, peculiar, and irregular. It explains that our understanding of the universe expanded when we realized that the Milky Way was just one of many galaxies in existence.
💡Cepheid Variables
Cepheid variables are a type of variable star whose brightness fluctuates in a regular pattern. Their importance lies in the fact that their luminosity (brightness) is directly related to their period (time it takes to complete one cycle of brightness variation). This relationship allowed astronomers like Edwin Hubble to measure the distance to the Andromeda Galaxy by observing its Cepheid variables, proving it was far beyond the Milky Way.
💡Galactic Collisions
The script explains that galactic collisions, where two galaxies collide and merge, are thought to be responsible for the formation of elliptical galaxies. These collisions can stretch galaxies into bizarre shapes and trigger intense star formation due to the compression of gas clouds. The Milky Way itself has absorbed smaller galaxies through this process.
💡Spiral Galaxies
Spiral galaxies, like the Milky Way, are characterized by a flat, rotating disk of stars, gas, and dust, a central bulge of older stars, and spiral arms. The script describes the different types of spiral galaxies, such as grand design spirals with well-defined arms and flocculent spirals with patchy arms. It also explains how their appearance changes based on our viewing angle.
💡Elliptical Galaxies
Elliptical galaxies are shaped like ellipses or spheres and lack the distinct structure of spiral galaxies. They consist mainly of older, redder stars and have little gas and dust, suggesting that star formation ceased long ago. The script proposes that elliptical galaxies may form from the merger of two colliding galaxies.
💡Peculiar Galaxies
Peculiar galaxies are those with distorted or irregular shapes, often resulting from galactic collisions or interactions. Examples given in the script include ring galaxies, where a smaller galaxy has passed through a larger one, and Hoag's Object, a bizarre galaxy with a distinct ring structure.
💡Irregular Galaxies
Irregular galaxies lack any organized structure and have a chaotic, shapeless appearance. The script suggests that larger irregular galaxies may have been distorted by collisions, while smaller ones may be too small to have formed a distinct shape. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, are examples of irregular galaxies.
💡Active Galaxies
Active galaxies are briefly mentioned in the script as a type of galaxy that emits far more energy than normal galaxies. These galaxies often have supermassive black holes at their centers, which can generate powerful jets and intense radiation as matter falls into the black hole.
Highlights

We live in the Milky Way galaxy, which is one of many galaxies in the universe.

In the early 20th century, astronomers debated whether the spiral nebulae were separate galaxies or part of the Milky Way.

Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason's observations of Cepheid variables in the Andromeda Nebula proved it was a separate galaxy, vastly expanding our understanding of the universe.

Galaxies are classified into four main types: elliptical, spiral, peculiar, and irregular.

Spiral galaxies, like the Milky Way, have a flat rotating disk, a central bulge, and sometimes a bar of stars across the center.

Galaxies likely formed from collapsing clouds of gas, with the spin creating a flat disk.

Elliptical galaxies are puffy, elliptical or spherical collections of older stars without gas or dust.

Elliptical galaxies are thought to form from galactic collisions.

During galactic collisions, tidal effects can stretch galaxies into bizarre shapes and trigger intense star formation.

Colliding galaxies can merge to form elliptical galaxies, or one galaxy can absorb and cannibalize a smaller one.

Peculiar galaxies are galaxies with distorted shapes due to collisions.

Ring galaxies form when a small galaxy plunges through a larger one, creating a ripple effect.

Irregular galaxies are small, chaotically shaped galaxies that may have been too small to form a defined shape or were disrupted by collisions.

Galaxies often have companion or satellite galaxies, like the Milky Way's Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

Astronomy continually shows us that our place in the universe is smaller and more removed from the action than we thought, but also reveals the grandeur of our place.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

The Formation of the Milky Way Galaxy

Star Systems and Types of Galaxies

The Universe: Most DANGEROUS Interstellar Phenomena of 2023 *3 Hour Marathon*

Journey to the Andromeda Galaxy [4K]

High Mass Stars: Crash Course Astronomy #31

Star and Galaxy Formation in the Early Universe

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating: