Why is the universe so dark?

p 79 "because of Earth's dark cosmic location, the lights of the universe don't blind us or limit our view. Astronomers can see virtually all of the heavens' wonders, including the entirety of cosmic history.

p 79 "solar system resides in the darkest part of the Milky Way Galaxy's life-habitable zone. ... Milky Way resides in the darkest life-habitable region of its galaxy cluster, which occupies the darkest life-habitable region of its supercluster of galaxies."

There is a habitable zone of our galaxy just like there is a habitable zone of our solar system in which the Earth resides. Inside the zone there is too much radiation, and outside it there are not enough heavy elements to support life. (From Privileged Planet by Gonzalez and Richards)

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Why is the universe so dark?

Our solar system is not only in the habitable zone of the galaxy, it is situated between two of the spiral arms of the galaxy, free from the kinds of energetic life-destroying interactions in a galactic arm. (From Privileged Planet by Gonzalez and Richards)

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Why is the universe so dark?

Extraordinarily, our solar system is very close to the galactic plane so that it is sheltered from emissions from the center of the galaxy, and it is also very close to the "co-rotation axis", the effective axis that the galactic arms rotate about. This means it does not go through the spiral arms as the rotate about the center of the galaxy. In most galaxies, the co-rotation axis is not within the habitable zone. (From Privileged Planet by Gonzalez and Richards)

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Why is the universe so dark?

This location where our solar system is protected from the damaging interactions that would destroy life is also a very dark location, and free of dust clouds that would hinder our view of the universe beyond. (From Privileged Planet by Gonzalez and Richards)

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Why is the universe so dark?

So the fortuitous position of our solar system is one from which we can freely explore the galaxy and the universe beyond. (From Privileged Planet by Gonzalez and Richards)

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Why is the universe so dark?

Would you presume that we were placed in this ideal location
a. To provide a protected location that allowed life to flourish
b. To provide the opportunity to learn about the universe

(From Privileged Planet by Gonzalez and Richards)

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Why is the universe so dark?

There is a habitable zone of our galaxy just like there is a habitable zone of our solar system in which the Earth resides. Inside the zone there is too much radiation, and outside it there are not enough heavy elements to support life. (From Privileged Planet by Gonzalez and Richards)

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Index

References
  Book of Nature Go Back