The Mysterious "Great Attractor" Pulling Our Galaxy Off Course
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May 1, 2024
Astrophysicists discuss our galaxy being pulled off course by the mysterious 'Great Attractor' at incredible speeds. The 'Zone of Avoidance' blocks our view of this phenomenon, leaving many questions about its nature. The podcast explores the intricacies of celestial motions and the potential impact of reaching this enigmatic force.
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insights INSIGHT
Universe Expansion
The universe is expanding, meaning everything moves away from everything else.
This expansion happens everywhere, not just from our perspective.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Rubber Sheet Analogy
Jorge Moreno uses the analogy of an infinite rubber sheet to explain universe expansion.
Stretching the sheet makes every point appear to move away from others.
insights INSIGHT
The Great Attractor
Our local group of galaxies is being pulled off course by something called the "Great Attractor."
This attractor lies within the "Zone of Avoidance," obscured by the Milky Way's stars and dust.
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No matter what you're doing right now – sitting, standing, walking – you're moving. First, because Earth is spinning around on its axis. This rotation is the reason we have days. Second, because Earth and other planets in our solar system are orbiting the sun. That's why we have years. Third, you're moving because the sun and the rest of our solar system is orbiting the center of the Milky Way galaxy at over 500,000 miles per hour. If all of that isn't nauseating enough, everything in the entire universe is expanding outward. All the time.
But in the 1970s, astrophysicists noticed something strange about our galactic neighborhood, or Local Group. The whole clump of neighboring galaxies was being pulled off course at over one million miles per hour, towards something we couldn't see — the "Great Attractor." This Great Attractor sits in the "Zone of Avoidance," an area of space that is blocked from view by the stars and gas of the Milky Way. Today on the show, host Regina G. Barber talks to astrophysicist Jorge Moreno about this mysterious phenomenon: What it might be and what will happen when we eventually reach it.
Curious about other cosmic mysteries? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
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