We observed human activities (canals) on Mars hundred years ago (Link) because of telescope light illusions. Galaxies did non exist (Link) in the human mind at that time but we knew about Nebulosae. The Universe as it was seen at that time, was limited to our Milky Way and there was no talk about Big Bang.

Today we estimate the existence of “more than one hundred billion galaxies in the observable universe” and the most distant galaxy was found 2004 and is estimated to be 13 billion light-years away. “The object is being viewed at a time only 750 million years after the big bang, when the universe was barely 5 percent of its current age.” (Hubblesite)

We know that fotons are attracted by gravitation making it possible to see stars behind stars and galaxies behind galaxies. The Galaxy cluster Abell 2218, the galaxies seen at the center of the Hubble photo, act as a cosmical gravitational lense making it possible to see more distant galaxies, whose light because of the lense effect, is stretched out forming a circle. The vertical red line on the left is the farthest knows galaxy.

Especcially tonight we may not think about it but we know that the stars and galaxies we’ll see are mostly not positioned as we see them. And many of the stars doesn’t exist any more. Does it matter anyway? Learn from the past, believe in the future. Enjoy this night!