Age of the Earth and SN1987A
An independent method of measuring earth age can be derived by
knowing the age of the universe. In 1987, we witnessed a cosmic
event that gives us a reliable method of estimating the age of the cosmos
by using an observation and simple math.
Here on earth, the sun rises in the morning, and the light takes
approximately eight minutes to strike the earth's surface. Our
solar system with the sun and it's nine planets resides in the Milky Way
galaxy. The closest observable star in our own Milky Way is 4.4
light years distant. If it twinkled now, we wouldn't see it for
another 4.4 years. The Milky Way is 30,000 light years
wide.
Our closest neighboring galaxy is Andromeda. The Magellanic Cloud
is the second closest galaxy to our own Milky Way is and is visible in
the Southern Hemisphere.
A blue star, named for the astronomer Sanduleak, was logged in 1977 and
designated Sk-60 202 in the Magellanic Cloud.
On February 24, 1987, the star was observed as it exploded into a fiery
supernova. A central ring of ejected material had formed around the
star, similar to the rings of Saturn, but had not been observed prior to
this date due to the great distance.
As the star debris exploded into the ring, it began to glow.
Because the ring was canted toward us slightly, the closest edge was
observed first and appeared as a glowing spot. Over time the rest
of the ring filled in, and we were able to observe the entire ring.
Today we can observe glowing inner rings beyond the central ring as
debris from the supernova has lighted them too.
It had been estimated by conventional distance measuring techniques that
the Magellanic cloud was located 175,000 light years away.
A light year is the distance it takes light to travel in a calendar
year. Knowing the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) we can
calculate the distance to a light source if we know the time it took for
light to travel the distance.
Knowing the distance from the ring to the star, and the time it took to
light it up, and the rate at which light travels, gives us all the
ingredients we need to calculate the distance from the observer on earth
to the star.
Thanks to this observation of a spectacular cosmic occurrence, and with
the use of simple math, we now know that the supernova was an event that
took place 168,000 years ago, fairly close to previous estimates of the
distance to the Magellanic Cloud.
The calculations for SN 1987A can be found at the following web
site:
http://www.chem.tufts.edu/science/astronomy/SN1987A.html
Today, we see galaxies in deep space billions of light years away. From a consensus of numerous, independent methods, the current estimate for the age of the universe is calculated at 13.7 billion years.
Our sun is a second generation star. It's elements, as well as the elements in our own earth, were cooked down in a previous nova (or previous novations) that exploded roughly 5.5 billion years ago. It took about one billion years for the sun and its array of planets to form. And our earth age as estimated by radiometric techniques is about 4.5 to 4.6 billion years.
Dick Fischer -
Genesis Proclaimed Association
Finding Harmony in Bible, Science, and History
www.genesisproclaimed.org
Received on Sat Nov 27 12:14:10 2004