Ace of Spades HQ

July 06, 2010

Planck Telescope's Six-Month Snapshot of Universe's "Oldest Light"
— Ace

The picture is the first full-sky image from Europe's Planck telescope which was sent into space last year to survey the "oldest light" in the cosmos.
It took the 600m-euro observatory just over six months to assemble the map.
It shows what is visible beyond the Earth to instruments that are sensitive to light at very long wavelengths - much longer than what we can sense with our eyes.
Researchers say it is a remarkable dataset that will help them understand better how the Universe came to look the way it does now.
"It's a spectacular picture; it's a thing of beauty," Dr Jan Tauber, the European Space Agency's (Esa) Planck project scientist, told BBC News.

Video about the telescope below.

Posted by: Ace at 10:16 AM | Comments (106)
Post contains 140 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Classic .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at July 06, 2010 10:17 AM (NuAIL)

2 We should give the muslims credit for this to make them feel good about themselves.

Posted by: i like big butts, i cannot lie at July 06, 2010 10:18 AM (uFokq)

3 Doubly cool!

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at July 06, 2010 10:18 AM (5aa4z)

4 It's old.

Posted by: toby928 at July 06, 2010 10:19 AM (4WbTI)

5 This post is even better than the last.

Posted by: Ronin at July 06, 2010 10:20 AM (mhOHX)

6 Wait, is there a new doubleposting policy? I didn't get that memo.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at July 06, 2010 10:20 AM (1TvCg)

7 See what happens when the muslims take over NASA?

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at July 06, 2010 10:21 AM (YVZlY)

8 We should give the muslims credit for this to make them feel good about themselves.

Posted by: i like big butts, i cannot lie at July 06, 2010 02:18 PM (uFokq)

We also invented post-it notes.

Posted by: The Ummah at July 06, 2010 10:21 AM (7BU4a)

9 are these the same kind of "scientists" that say that the climate of the "earth" is changing ?

Posted by: Denny Crane at July 06, 2010 10:21 AM (I+7Zv)

10 Double posting is pretty constant.

Posted by: andycanuck at July 06, 2010 10:21 AM (7b1Uc)

11 Usually when Ace double-posts, he's stepping on a cob-logger's dick, not his own.

His HTML pimp hand is weak.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 06, 2010 10:21 AM (6Rh3U)

12
I see everything twice!

Posted by: The Soldier Who Saw Everything Twice at July 06, 2010 10:22 AM (fx8sm)

13 I'm stuffed.

Posted by: Memory Hole at July 06, 2010 10:22 AM (5aa4z)

14 All the cool Morons are commenting on this thread!

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at July 06, 2010 10:22 AM (YVZlY)

15 Parallel Universes and all that...

Posted by: eleven at July 06, 2010 10:22 AM (7DB+a)

16
Looks like Photoshopped sand art to me. And yes, I am a scientist.

Posted by: Dang at July 06, 2010 10:23 AM (Chg7a)

17 All the cool Morons are commenting on this thread!

No, they were on the other Planck Telescope thread.

Posted by: Memory Hole at July 06, 2010 10:23 AM (5aa4z)

18 A guy who lived in a country that would eventually be conquered by Muslims, and it's inhabitants forcibly converted, came up with some of the basic math that made this discovery possible.

Posted by: NASA at July 06, 2010 10:23 AM (xO+6C)

19 It's a glitch in the matrix. They changed something.

Posted by: toby928 at July 06, 2010 10:23 AM (4WbTI)

20 Looks like Photoshopped sand art to me. And yes, I am a scientist.

I think it looks like a mammogram. A lot less so now, of course, but still.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at July 06, 2010 10:24 AM (5aa4z)

Hurray for Muzztards, the invented the JIHAD and the SUICIDE BOMBER.

Give the mother fuckers a cookie.

Posted by: gus at July 06, 2010 10:25 AM (Vqruj)

What a bunch of bullshit - the ESA needs to knock off all this space shit and start mending some fucking fences with teh muslims.

Losers.

Posted by: Sharp Knives and Loud Guns at July 06, 2010 10:25 AM (l6isY)

23 Maybe what caused this double-post by Ace is the same thing that keeps making the DJIA spike between 40 and 50 points at a time. Either that, or my TD Ameritrade is fucked up.

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at July 06, 2010 10:26 AM (YVZlY)

We also invented post-it notes.

Posted by: The Three Ummah

Fixed.

Posted by: huerfano at July 06, 2010 10:26 AM (rqC5o)

25 Apparently the Universe looks like a Nyquil Gel Cap.

I can live with that.

Posted by: BumperStickerist at July 06, 2010 10:26 AM (ruzrP)

26 A guy who lived in a country that would eventually be conquered by Muslims, and it's inhabitants forcibly converted, came up with some of the basic math that made this discovery possible.

Posted by: NASA at July 06, 2010 02:23 PM (xO+6C)

Hey, if we hadn't destroyed all those ancient trade routes between Europe and Asia, you guys wouldn't have had to sail around us, accidentally found America, and formed the United States.

So we officially take credit for everything the US has done. Except the things we don't like.

Posted by: The Ummah at July 06, 2010 10:26 AM (7BU4a)

27 If you squint really hard you can see the Mote in God's Eye. Where a rebellion has just been put down on the planet New Chicago that was fomented by the evil Arab merchant, Horace Hussein Barry Bury. Science imitates art imitating life.

Posted by: andycanuck at July 06, 2010 10:27 AM (7b1Uc)

28 Now where's my grant money?

Posted by: Researchers who say it is a remarkable dataset that will help them understand better how the Univers at July 06, 2010 10:27 AM (EW49d)

29 Globular clusters?

Posted by: logprof at July 06, 2010 10:27 AM (BP6Z1)

30 With technology such as this, we will be able to look back into time and realize that the Founding Fathers were progressives who would look favorably on government programs and spending to help the poor.

Posted by: Joe Biden at July 06, 2010 10:27 AM (S+el1)

Hurray for Muzztards, the invented the JIHAD and the SUICIDE BOMBER.

Give the mother fuckers a cookie.

Posted by: gus at July 06, 2010 02:25 PM (Vqruj)

Don't forget the burka.

Posted by: The Ummah at July 06, 2010 10:28 AM (7BU4a)

32 Apparently the Universe looks like a Nyquil Gel Cap.

or a suppository

either or

Posted by: toby928 at July 06, 2010 10:28 AM (4WbTI)

33
Islamic contribution to mathematics...

There are 5 Jews walking down the road. You strap a bomb to your 13 year old daughter and tell her to walk over to them. When she does, you detonate the bomb and kill 3 Jews, and your daughter. Now, how many Jews are left?

Posted by: Dang at July 06, 2010 10:28 AM (Chg7a)

34 Ah, a pictue of the Cosmic Egg...

Posted by: Mork at July 06, 2010 10:28 AM (77Zbc)

Hurray for Muzztards, the invented the JIHAD and the SUICIDE BOMBER.

Give the mother fuckers a cookie.

Posted by: gus at July 06, 2010 02:25 PM (Vqruj)

Hey, hey!

Posted by: LTTE at July 06, 2010 10:28 AM (BP6Z1)

36 OT : DOJ just filed against Arizona.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at July 06, 2010 10:29 AM (OMRnD)

37 With technology such as this, we will be able to look back into time and realize that the Founding Fathers were progressives who would look favorably on government programs and spending to help the poor.

Posted by: Joe Biden at July 06, 2010 02:27 PM (S+el1)

And paying off your, uh, buddies - capiche?

Posted by: The SEIU at July 06, 2010 10:29 AM (7BU4a)

38 There are 5 Jews walking down the road. You strap a bomb to your 13 year old daughter and tell her to walk over to them. When she does, you detonate the bomb and kill 3 Jews, and your daughter. Now, how many Jews are left?

Posted by: Dang at July 06, 2010 02:28 PM (Chg7a)

2 many?

Posted by: The Ummah at July 06, 2010 10:30 AM (7BU4a)

39 It's full of stars!

Posted by: some actor or something at July 06, 2010 10:30 AM (4Kl5M)

40 Hmm... that picture looks a lot like a plate of spaghetti....

Posted by: stuiec at July 06, 2010 10:30 AM (W+GYq)

41 How does this advance the theory of AGW?

Posted by: Truman North at July 06, 2010 10:31 AM (e8YaH)

42 Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

OMG!

Posted by: Bear Hippie at July 06, 2010 10:31 AM (BP6Z1)

43 I've got a velvet painting that under a black light looks just like that.

Posted by: Will Folks at July 06, 2010 10:31 AM (YVZlY)

44 We really should think the muslims for making this possible.

Posted by: Barrack Hussein Obama at July 06, 2010 10:31 AM (QBQcg)

45 38 There are 5 Jews walking down the road. You strap a bomb to your 13 year old daughter and tell her to walk over to them. When she does, you detonate the bomb and kill 3 Jews, and your daughter. Now, how many Jews are left?
Posted by: Dang at July 06, 2010 02:28 PM (Chg7a)

2 many?
Posted by: The Ummah

You get extra credit, my sick little burka banger!

Posted by: Dang at July 06, 2010 10:32 AM (Chg7a)

46 Where is the Planet of the Apes located on this diagram?

Posted by: Joe Biden at July 06, 2010 10:32 AM (S+el1)

47 I don't see a single muslim in that picture.

Posted by: rdbrewer at July 06, 2010 10:32 AM (X8Vl0)

48 Wow, the oldest light in the universe ... that's a pretty impressive achievement ...

Too bad it's physically impossible to photograph what we left behind on the moon. Being such a desirable military position, especially since only one side is always facing Earth, you'd think we'd want to see if anything happened over the past forty years to what we left there in the 60s & 70s, or at minimum map the hell out of it for defensive reasons.

It seems even stranger given that I can log onto Google Earth and use a freebie satellite image to discern the make and model of my car in the driveway, and from far higher (due to 6X gravity) and through a dense atmosphere to boot ... you'd think that since the Moon doesn't have all that it'd be easier.

Oh well, if it's impossible then it's impossible ....

;-)

Posted by: Smart Alex at July 06, 2010 10:33 AM (8/DeP)

49 There are too many stars on the left side.

The universe is gonna tip over.

Posted by: Hank Johnson at July 06, 2010 10:33 AM (BP6Z1)

50 Must be a big tripod

Posted by: Pablo Honey at July 06, 2010 10:33 AM (jxHlf)

51 are these the same kind of "scientists" that say that the climate of the "earth" is changing ? Posted by: Denny Crane

Nope, these ones are doing verifiable science as opposed to made-up, faked-up, bullshit sciency extrapolation.

Posted by: huerfano at July 06, 2010 10:34 AM (rqC5o)

This is perfect. The Agency that went to the moon. Is now doing outreach to Camels who live in sqalor and sand.

JFK's LEGACY. John Glenn just shit his pants.

Posted by: gus at July 06, 2010 10:35 AM (Vqruj)

53 Where are the turtles?

Posted by: toby928 at July 06, 2010 10:35 AM (4WbTI)

54 This blog is awesome!

Posted by: Doublemint Twins at July 06, 2010 10:35 AM (7+pP9)

55 Hey, does this fish eye lens make my universe look fat?

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at July 06, 2010 10:36 AM (YVZlY)

56 This picture is another fabrication of the Zionist Astronomical-Industrial cabal.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 06, 2010 10:36 AM (6Rh3U)

57 We heard it from a dude who heard it from another dude that his 2nd cousin, who's brother-in-law is Muslim, delivered the bolts necessary to hold the cupholder to the side of the computer receiving the images from the telescope in orbit.

Posted by: NASA at July 06, 2010 10:37 AM (xO+6C)

58 There are 5 Jews walking down the road. You strap a bomb to your 13 year old daughter and tell her to walk over to them. When she does, you detonate the bomb and kill 3 Jews, and your daughter. Now, how many Jews are left?
Posted by: Dang at July 06, 2010 02:28 PM (Chg7a)

2 many?
Posted by: The Ummah

And those Israeli bastards just killed your daughter!

Posted by: Palestinian sympathizer at July 06, 2010 10:37 AM (rqC5o)

Nope, these ones are doing verifiable science as opposed to made-up, faked-up, bullshit sciency extrapolation.

The current heatwave spreading across the country is further proof that Anthropeginic Global Warming is occurring at an alarming rate.

Our current computer models predict that the atmosphere is going to explode in an enormous fireball some time in the middle of August.

Posted by: IPCC Sciencytists at July 06, 2010 10:38 AM (jAs+i)

Our current computer models predict that the atmosphere is going to explode in an enormous fireball some time in the middle of August.

Posted by: IPCC Sciencytists at July 06, 2010 02:38 PM (jAs+i)

But will things be all better in time for the kickoff of the College Football Season?

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at July 06, 2010 10:41 AM (YVZlY)

61 It's pretty sad commentary that the Europeans are moving forward with real space science while NASA is being tasked to land Muslims on an asteroid so they can look down and measure carbon dioxide or whatever.

Posted by: ErikW at July 06, 2010 10:41 AM (jAs+i)

62 Our current computer models predict that the atmosphere is going to explode in an enormous fireball some time in the middle of August.

For real. The temperature has gone up 18 degrees since this morning. If trends continue, we will be lucky to live past midnight.

Posted by: toby928 at July 06, 2010 10:41 AM (4WbTI)

63
Oldest light in the universe my ass! I got some light that's a lot older than that shit. That shit's way too new. Look at it! I'd like to see them bring that crap on the Antiques Road Show. "My grand-dad said he bought it while on vacation and the guy he bought it from said it was the oldest light in the universe!" Those Keno twins would kick their ass.

Posted by: Dang at July 06, 2010 10:42 AM (Chg7a)

64 We have to take a picture of the universe to find out what's in it.

Posted by: Nancy Pelosi, PhD at July 06, 2010 10:43 AM (jy5QA)

65 The release of my second chakra would make this brilliant picture look pale and lackluster by comparison.

Posted by: Al Gore at July 06, 2010 10:44 AM (S+el1)

66 I got your old light right here.

Posted by: Helen Thomas at July 06, 2010 10:44 AM (X8Vl0)

67 ...oldest light we're aware of, that is.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 06, 2010 10:45 AM (PQY7w)

68

What am I missing about the Muslim thing?

I know we use their names for a lot of stars (Altair, Aldebaran, Deneb, Betelgeuse, etc), but what's going on with the "Muslims got us ____"?

The uniformity (or not) of the pink and orange stuff is key to understanding the formation of the universe, so yeah, this is a big deal.

Posted by: s'moron at July 06, 2010 10:46 AM (UaxA0)

69 Why does everything in outerspace look like a giant retarded vagina?

Posted by: Joanie (Oven Gloves) at July 06, 2010 10:46 AM (HaYO4)

70

BTW,

"Three Ummah" should win the internet gold medal.

invented post-its, larff!

Posted by: s'moron at July 06, 2010 10:47 AM (UaxA0)

71
When they were taking the picture I ran really fast from one side of the universe to the other. I'm in the picture twice! Those stupid fucks.

Posted by: That Really Fast Comet Thing Which Remains Undiscovered by Scientists at July 06, 2010 10:47 AM (Chg7a)

72 The ESA should have been ready with a thorough statement on what the pic shows. In the article, they seem cagey and mention unauthorized statements about what the photo shows. They seem to indicate they'll release information later. Fail.

Posted by: Helen Thomas at July 06, 2010 10:48 AM (X8Vl0)

73 Shouldn't a picture of the oldest light be in sepia-tone?

Posted by: toby928 at July 06, 2010 10:48 AM (4WbTI)

Posted by: rdbrewer at July 06, 2010 10:48 AM (X8Vl0)

75 Why don't we get to see some of that new, shiny light? Space agencies never spend any money on that.

Posted by: rdbrewer at July 06, 2010 10:50 AM (X8Vl0)

76 Naked Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to pop out of that thing any minute. I can feel it.

Posted by: A. Sullivan at July 06, 2010 10:50 AM (jy5QA)

77 Why does everything in outerspace look like a giant retarded vagina?

You see Margaret Cho, too? Spooky.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at July 06, 2010 10:51 AM (5aa4z)

78

Joanie

l'origine du monde

NSFW, but classical art (late 1800s realist period)

Posted by: s'moron at July 06, 2010 10:51 AM (UaxA0)

79 s'moron:
What am I missing about the Muslim thing?

This.

Posted by: sandy burger at July 06, 2010 10:51 AM (Pson9)

80 Your taxes, give them to me, now.

Posted by: Naked Arnold Schwarzenegger at July 06, 2010 10:52 AM (4WbTI)

81 Why don't we get to see some of that new, shiny light?

We're workin' it.

Posted by: Iran at July 06, 2010 10:52 AM (5aa4z)

82 l'origine du monde

That reminds me. I gotta pick up some trimmer string on the way home.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at July 06, 2010 10:53 AM (5aa4z)

"l'origine du monde

NSFW, but classical art (late 1800s realist period)"

If I hung that up in my kitchen, I'd die of starvation.

Posted by: Joanie (Oven Gloves) at July 06, 2010 10:55 AM (HaYO4)

84 We also invented rock throwing.

Posted by: Habaab, Ph.D. in Rock Throwing at July 06, 2010 10:56 AM (jAs+i)

85
Shit. Okay. Not that old after all. The expiration date on this light says 2112 so it's still pretty fresh. Sorry.

Posted by: The Scientists at July 06, 2010 10:56 AM (Chg7a)

86 In response to criticism, White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said in a statement that Â“The President has always said that he wants NASA to engage with the worldÂ’s best scientists and engineers as we work together to push the boundaries of exploration

Muslim scientists have invented plenty of stuff that can be used in space exploration, like...um, never mind. Haters!

Posted by: Palestinian sympathizer at July 06, 2010 10:58 AM (rqC5o)

87 I thought that OLD LIGHT was illegal now. We're supposed to use the NEW LIGHT now. MERCURY in the NEW LIGHT?? That's not a bug, it's a feature.

Posted by: gus at July 06, 2010 10:58 AM (Vqruj)

Iran has MUSLIM SCIENTISTS. How can we make them feel good???

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

SAYONARA JOOOOOOOOOS!!!

Posted by: gus at July 06, 2010 11:00 AM (Vqruj)

89

thx, sandy. I see.

OK, now

What's going on then? Almost 100 comments in and no "Why are there no Muslims on Star Trek" jokes?

Slackers.

Posted by: s'moron at July 06, 2010 11:07 AM (UaxA0)

I am now convinced after looking at this image that what I have long suspected is true.

God is on acid.

Posted by: Timothy Leary at July 06, 2010 11:07 AM (7FgWm)

91 The only light that matters is Ellie Light.

Posted by: Astroturfing, Inc. at July 06, 2010 11:08 AM (S+el1)

"What's going on then? Almost 100 comments in and no "Why are there no Muslims on Star Trek" jokes?"

You silly, every trekkie knows that the Klingons were the Muslims.

Jeeez.

Posted by: Gene Rodinmyhiney at July 06, 2010 11:12 AM (7FgWm)

This coupling of matter and radiation of which they speak sounds dangerous, if not downright immoral.

I'm against it.

Posted by: Nash Rambler at July 06, 2010 11:12 AM (ASdwP)

94 But my Mom still invented "White-Out". She isn't Muslim.

Posted by: a monkee at July 06, 2010 11:22 AM (usjNq)

95 I'm sure Obama is glad this wasn't taken by an American telescope - saves him the trouble of having to dismantle our space telescope program, along with manned space exploration.

Posted by: CoolCzech at July 06, 2010 11:28 AM (Iaxlk)

96 Is it just me, or does that picture look like looking down on a martini, just after you downed 3 of them?

Posted by: CoolCzech at July 06, 2010 11:30 AM (Iaxlk)

A.Double.Rainbow.

Dude!

Posted by: yosemitebear at July 06, 2010 11:54 AM (YN/Le)

Anyone deluded enough to think the Arab world values scientific discovery should go here:

http://tinyurl.com/bx758

If patents granted are a measure of a culture's intellectual curiosity, the score thus far would be:

The West, Japan and India: Infinity

The Arab and Muslim world: Bupkis

Posted by: effinayright at July 06, 2010 12:40 PM (GNTj/)

99 spending money on like um telesatellite stuff is like totally lame man. we should like totally be um giving hugs and stuff to the religion of peace man because they like don't um talk about Christ so they should like get our money because we're greedy and all they have to sell to the world is like oil and shit and so that's why most of their people are like man totally poor and shit and the women and minorities are like man totally hardest hit but at least they don't like talk about Christ. yeah man.

Posted by: Haven't Left the 60s Douchebag at July 06, 2010 12:52 PM (bFAiW)

100 The next time you need a clitorectomy, thank a Muslim.

Posted by: Ahmed the Enlightened at July 06, 2010 01:42 PM (VXBR1)

101 Wiping your ass with your hand? Yeah, we invented that.

Posted by: Ahmed the Enlightened at July 06, 2010 01:44 PM (VXBR1)

102 Google "Muslim Nobel Prize winners" from, ironically enough, the Planck's Constant blog.

Posted by: andycanuck at July 06, 2010 01:45 PM (7b1Uc)

103 Eskimos got all kinds of credit because they had 22 different words for snow. Nobody remembers that Muslims have 53 words for goat pussy.

Posted by: Ahmed the Enlightened at July 06, 2010 01:53 PM (VXBR1)

104 Did the NSA successfully reach out to the muslim world with the Planck Telescope?

Posted by: rdbrewer at July 06, 2010 02:14 PM (X8Vl0)

105 That light is older than Ruth Ginsburgh.