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Astronomy/distance comprehension

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Expert: Steven LJ Russo - 9/10/2009


Question
  I don't remember an accurate distance (perhaps you can fill in blanks) but say the farthest galaxies known are x distance light-years away, can you compare that to a grain of sand at the north pole proper and the moon? - Are they closer/farther ----- much closer/much farther? Thank you.

Answer
The farthest Galaxies are about 14 Billion LY's away.

Quite honestly, I don't know about the sand and Moon relationship, but take a look at this web site for a rough idea about scale models and distances.:

http://www.noao.edu/education/peppercorn/pcmain.html

Steve

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Steven LJ Russo

Expertise

As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.

Experience

Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.

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