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If we look at a galaxy through a telescope, and IF the galaxy arms were ligned up as traight arms from center and out, the arms would look like they were spiral shaped. As the galaxy rotates the light from the closest stars would "hit" the telescope, let's say 100k-500k years, earlier than the light from the farthest stars in that galaxy, so our perception of that galaxy is that the arms are spiral shaped while they're not.
Also when we look at galaxies that has collided - how they deform, or looking at nebulas, its physical shape is really not how we see them through our telescopes.
So I assume there is a "problem" that must be solved before we determine its shape and what is happening in them.
Is there any sort of corrections done that astronomers use to calculate size and shape of a galaxy due to "time distortions" like this?
Vidar
Also when we look at galaxies that has collided - how they deform, or looking at nebulas, its physical shape is really not how we see them through our telescopes.
So I assume there is a "problem" that must be solved before we determine its shape and what is happening in them.
Is there any sort of corrections done that astronomers use to calculate size and shape of a galaxy due to "time distortions" like this?
Vidar