Meet Icarus: The Farthest Star We've Ever Seen

The video explores the vastness of space, focusing on the Milky Way and the discovery of Icarus, a star 14 billion light years away. It explains gravitational lensing and microlensing, which magnified Icarus, and discusses the potential growth of the Milky Way due to star formation. The video highlights the challenges of studying galaxies and the importance of understanding cosmic phenomena.

What is the farthest distance a star can be seen without a telescope?

• 40,000 light-years

• 10,000 light-years

• 20,000 light-years

• 30,000 light-years

What is the name of the most distant star discovered, which is 14 billion light years away?

• Sirius

• Andromeda

• Icarus

• Betelgeuse

What phenomenon allows astronomers to see stars that are normally too far away to observe?

• Black holes

• Gravitational lensing

• Solar flares

• Cosmic rays

What is the typical magnification factor for galaxies experiencing gravitational lensing?

• 10 times

• 50 times

• 100 times

• 200 times

What is the term for small objects within a larger lens that provide additional magnification?

• Microgalaxies

• Microlenses

• Microplanets

• Microstars

What is one of the potential outcomes of studying the magnification pattern of Icarus?

• Finding new galaxies

• Discovering new planets

• Understanding dark matter distribution

• Measuring the speed of light

What is the estimated growth rate of the Milky Way galaxy?

• 100 meters per second

• 300 meters per second

• 500 meters per second

• 700 meters per second