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The ‘Eye of Sauron’ is real –and teaching us the secrets of the universe
Spiral Galaxy NGC4151: the "Eye of Sauron"
A team of scientists from the University of Southampton in the UK are using data from a nearby galaxy to better understand the size of the universe.
Spiral galaxy NGC4151, whimsically named the "Eye of Sauron" for its striking resemblance to the iconic character from JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", has a black hole at its center that is surrounded by—aptly enough—a ring of hot gas.
By closely examining how long it takes for infrared radiation to travel from the galaxy center out to the ring, scientists have been able to determine the galaxy's actual size.
By then comparing the galaxy's actual size with its apparent size as seen from an observatory, it's possible to get an accurate estimate of its distance from earth—some 19 megaparsecs, according to university researchers.
This novel technique promises to help us get better measurements of the distances between stars and, ultimately, provide a clearer idea of the actual size of the universe.
According to lead researcher Dr. Sebastian Hoenig:
One of the key findings is that the distance determined in this new fashion is quite precise — with only about 10 per cent uncertainty. In fact, if the current result for NGC 4151 holds for other objects, it can potentially beat any other current methods to reach the same precision to determine distances for remote galaxies directly based on simple geometrical principles. Moreover, it can be readily used on many more sources than the current most precise method.
Dr. Hoenig and his colleagues are planning to conduct similar measurements using a dozen other galaxies, with the goal of acquiring a more precise understanding of the history of the universe's expansion. — GMA News
