Galaxies Galore with Neil deGrasse Tyson

What does JWST tell us about galaxy formation? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice answer questions about galaxies, measuring the distance of far away objects, dark matter, primordial galaxies, and more!

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How do we determine how far things are from Earth? Learn how stereoscopic vision inspired astrophysicists to discover the distances of far away stars. Learn about Henrietta Leavitt, variable stars, and Hubble’s discovery of the andromeda galaxy. What is parallax? Find out about arcseconds and how Star Wars uses parsec wrong.

Why can we see massive galaxies just after the big bang? We discuss JWST’s primordial galaxies and the definition of dark matter versus dark energy. Why doesn’t dark matter fall into the center of galaxies? How do supermassive black holes get so big? What does this mean for the age of the universe?

We explore redshifting and the nature of the universe’s expansion. What would be necessary technology for aliens to have in order to visit us? Why would aliens be interested in Earth? How has the JWST forever changed our understanding of the universe?

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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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00:00 - Introduction: Galaxies
1:15 - The Distance Ladder: How Far Are Galaxies From Earth?
4:02 - Stereoscopic Vision & Nearby Stars
9:06 - Finding Stars Off of Luminosity
14:10 - Discovering the Andromeda Galaxy
16:29 - Arcseconds, Parallax, & Parsecs
20:54 - Massive Galaxies After the Big Bang
24:41 - The Behavior of Dark Matter
28:43 - Cosmic Dark Ages
30:05 - The Nature of Expansion
32:03 - What Technology Would Aliens Need to Visit?
36:24 - Dark Matter v. Dark Energy
38:30 - JWST & Our Understanding of the Universe