Page 31 - Scientech 2014-15

The eternal journey
Kind Attention Passengers,
Our vehicle named Earth is traveling at a speed of
108,000 kilometers per hour around a star named
Sun. At the same time, this vehicle is, by itself
rotating at a speed of 1675 kilometer per hour. A
cycle is in fact completed in 24 hours. In a way, we
are on an interesting ‘roller coaster’ that moves in
two distinct ways.
Along with the earth, there are millions and billions
and trillions of stars, planets, moons, comets,
asteroids, minor planets, dust and inhabitants that
are traveling in this solar system!!! Our group captian,
the mighty Sun has a greater share of adventure in
this journey. He is traveling towards the constellation
of Hercules at a speed of 72000kilometers per hour,
along with the entire solar system!...
Head spinning?!!!.. Well, things do not get over here.
In fact, the entire family constellation of Hercules,
which is 4,600,000,000 years old, is traveling
upwards at a speed of 828,000 kilometer per hour.
Think of it- we earthlings are on an expedition,
simply beyond human comprehension. We are
turning around ourself, roaming around the Sun,
moving towards a constellation and going upwards
altogether- all at the same time.
So, next time, when some smart alec pokes a jibe at
you and wants to know why you are sitting idle, not
doing anything, you can give a rejoinder that you are
on a bon voyage, that too at an unfathomable speed.
Returning to the voyage, are you aware how perilous
it is, about the grave dangers lurking inside? Have
you heard of Supernova, a stellar explosion that
briefly outshines an entire galaxy, radiating as much
energy as the Sun or any ordinary star is expected
to emit over its entire life span, before fading from
view over several weeks or months? Pause to think
of reality- our superman sun is dribbling us through
several supernovas, many dangerous stars that are
million times bigger than the Sun. But then, if there
is someone who can anihilate us in just a fraction
of a second, it is none other than our mighty Sun!
Ever paused to think how brilliant our Sun is? But
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unfortunately, his cruising stands restricted to
the Milky Way galaxy alone....but then, that is no
miniscule realm either.
A complete round trip within this family circle
would require 250,000,000 years. Even if we were
to adopt a science fiction mode and travel at the
speed of light, we would require nothing more than
100,000 years to travel from one side to the other.
So, the big question- what then is this Milky Way?
Here you go- Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy,
with an approximate of 100,000–120,000 light-
years in diameter, containing 100–400 billion stars.
Along with this, an equal number of planets as well.
Apart from this, it has also undertaken an arduous
voyage, incorporating each of us, at a speed of
2,000,000 kilometer per hour, towards eternity.
And in this journey, the Milky way has innumerable
fellow travellers too- those who share similar
features, those that stand towering to her in size,
those that contain in their own congregation,
innumerous stars, planets and other celestial
bodies.
Can anyone gauge where the entire clan is heading
towards, what this rapturous journey is for? The
answer so far is 'no'. The knowledge acquired by
science so far is inadequate. This prosaic truth
is the thirst for all further research, the curiosity
behind mankind's eternal inquest. The more you
research, the greater you learn....but human lust
for knowledge will continue to be eternal...just like
this universe.
Happy Journey!
Renjith Gopalkrishnan
renjith.gkp@gmail.com
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