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Our Universe

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This is a program I present at free seminars with lots of added narrations and field questions from the audience. I have placed it here so the data can be reviewed in hopes it is spark the reader to do more research and reading. Remember we are continuing to collect new data and review old data and rework theories and this is just a snapshot of what we think we know.

Think of Photons as rain drops, a large diameter bucket collects more drops than a smaller one.

The larger the objective lens or mirror the more light that is collected.

Light starts from a point then continues to spread out with distance from the source. That is why bigger scopes are needed to collect then very faint signature of distant stars and galaxies. The farther away you are from a flash light the dimmer the light appears.

There are more Rods than Cones and that is why we don't see color as well when it is dark. When looking through a telescope use averted vision so you are using the sides of your eye where the Rods are located to see more detail.

Film had a QE (quantum efficiency) of 2 - 4 % (see hypered film). Today's modified digital cameras can reach 30+ % and CCD (charged coupled device) can range from 50% to 95+ %. Front illuminated CCD peak at 85-90 % while back illuminated cameras reach the high 95+ %.

Remember that only 60-70 years ago we thought everything was part of the Milky Way. Edwin Hubble then discovered that certain nebula were actually galaxies. We are still learning about Earth and its climatic stages and unique dynamics. Since we don't have all the answers yet it is imperative that we take care of her. The limit of human contributions that reach a point that may have undesirable effects on our planet should not occur. The problem is we really don't know when this might happen or if has already caused irreversible damage. Please practice good stewardship over our home, The Earth, its the only one we have.

AS this scale of the Solar System shows how remote the outer planets really are.

We are now discovering many more large objects out past Neptune and of course Pluto. Pluto was demoted from "Planet" status due to the abundance of large bodies past its orbit. It may be that the space between star systems and there outer regions may be littered with debris left over from early planet formation and gravitational break-up of planet/asteroid type bodies.