I'm always amazed the seemingly infinite variety of objects in space and in science in general. As humans we like black and white explanations and prefer to find neat categories to put things in while nature prefers the infinite possibilities and variations. The debate on planets is just one example, I've not heard a definition of what a planet it that makes any sense. That doesn't stop us from trying. I think it makes a lot more sense that objects like Omega Centari are reminding us that our desire to pigeon hole everything into nice neat categories and types is futile and self defeating. The variations are infinite, our minds on the hand are not quite there yet. Robert Taylor -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Rodger C. Fry Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 9:35 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Glob cluster omega Cen observing reports Daniel, Well put and you are absolutely right! Rodger ----- Original Message ----- From: "daniel turner" <outwest112@yahoo.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 5:33 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Glob cluster omega Cen observing reports --- On Sun, 5/17/09, Canopus56 <canopus56@yahoo.com> wrote:
Recent research indicates that omega Cen may not be a true globular that formed with the Milky Way. Like M54 - the core of another captured galaxy remnant - the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy, omega Cent may the stripped remnant of another galaxy that the Milky Way captured and cannibalized. See Hubble org article above. Based on motion studies of stars in omega Cen, it is thought there is a medium sized black hole at its center.
Kurt: We tend to draw boundry lines that really don't matter that much. I don't care if Pluto is a planet and I avoided the debate, but M54 not being a "real" globular cluster is at best a stretch. When some wanted to banish M54, Sue French said that even if we stole it, it's ours now. My take on the subject is this. How do we know that ALL Globulars aren't the cores of extinct dwarf galaxies? We don't. And Omega Centari has several internal populations of stars so that it's possible if not likely that it ate a few neighbors before being eaten itself. Many Globulars are old enough to predate the Milky Way to the point that they crowd the age of the universe. We don't know enough to draw boundry lines through the group. DT _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com