TEDGlobal 2014
Wendy Freedman: This telescope might show us the beginning of the universe
溫蒂.弗里德曼: 新望遠鏡可能發現宇宙之初
Filmed:
Readability: 4.2
1,448,439 views
宇宙是何時開始?如何開始?天文學家全球群組希望透過大型望遠鏡來窺探宇宙最久遠的過去,而能夠解開答案。由溫蒂·弗里德曼帶領建造巨型麥哲倫望遠鏡,目前正在南美進行中。在里約的 TEDGlobal,她分享了一個清晰的願景:GMT 望遠鏡可讓「發現宇宙」成為可能。
Wendy Freedman - Astronomer
Wendy Freedman led the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, a massive earthbound observatory. Full bio
Wendy Freedman led the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, a massive earthbound observatory. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
When I was 14 years old,
I was interested in science --
I was interested in science --
0
944
4371
十四歲時,我對科學有很大的興趣,
興奮地想學習更多。
00:17
fascinated by it,
excited to learn about it.
excited to learn about it.
1
5339
2485
00:20
And I had a high school science teacher
who would say to the class,
who would say to the class,
2
8479
4059
但高中科學老師卻對學生說:
00:24
"The girls don't have to listen to this."
3
12562
3189
「女孩子不用聽這門課」。
00:28
Encouraging, yes.
4
16800
1405
激勵人心吧!
00:30
(Laughter)
5
18229
1087
(笑聲)
00:31
I chose not to listen --
but to that statement alone.
but to that statement alone.
6
19340
4032
我決定不聽他的話 - 但僅限於這句話。
00:36
So let me take you
to the Andes mountains in Chile,
to the Andes mountains in Chile,
7
24710
3707
讓我帶你們到
智利的安地斯山脈,
智利的安地斯山脈,
00:40
500 kilometers, 300 miles
northeast of Santiago.
northeast of Santiago.
8
28441
4529
位於聖地亞哥東北方五百公里,
相當於三百英里處,
相當於三百英里處,
非常偏遠,非常乾燥,
但也非常的美麗。
但也非常的美麗。
00:45
It's very remote, it's very dry
and it's very beautiful.
and it's very beautiful.
9
33284
4190
這裡幾乎什麼都沒有,
00:50
And there's not much there.
10
38087
1375
00:51
There are condors, there are tarantulas,
11
39486
2640
只有禿鷹、大蜘蛛,
00:54
and at night, when the light dims,
12
42150
2497
以及當夜晚降臨的時候,
00:56
it reveals one of the darkest
skies on Earth.
skies on Earth.
13
44671
3365
呈現出全球最黑的天空之一。
這座山是一個奇幻的地方,
01:00
It's kind of a magic place, the mountain.
14
48906
2550
01:03
It's a wonderful combination
of very remote mountaintop
of very remote mountaintop
15
51480
4337
一個驚奇的組合:在偏遠的山頂上
01:07
with exquisitely sophisticated technology.
16
55841
3181
結合了精密的科技。
01:11
And our ancestors, for as long
as there's been recorded history,
as there's been recorded history,
17
59508
3592
自從有歷史記載以來,
我們的祖先
我們的祖先
01:15
have looked at the night sky
and pondered the nature of our existence.
and pondered the nature of our existence.
18
63124
4786
就一直眺望夜空,思考我們的存在,
01:20
And we're no exception, our generation.
19
68506
2360
我們這一代也不例外。
01:23
The only difficulty is
that the night sky now is blocked
that the night sky now is blocked
20
71536
3096
但困難的是
那片夜空現在已經
被城市的光害給遮蓋了。
被城市的光害給遮蓋了。
01:26
by the glare of city lights.
21
74656
1850
01:29
And so astronomers go
to these very remote mountaintops
to these very remote mountaintops
22
77058
3614
所以天文學家
必須在偏遠的山頂上,
必須在偏遠的山頂上,
才能觀察研究這個宇宙。
01:32
to view and to study the cosmos.
23
80696
1920
01:34
So telescopes
are our window to the cosmos.
are our window to the cosmos.
24
82981
3119
天文望遠鏡,
是我們能看見宇宙的窗口,
是我們能看見宇宙的窗口,
01:40
It's no exaggeration to say that
the Southern Hemisphere is going to be
the Southern Hemisphere is going to be
25
88042
4023
這句話並不誇張:有人說南半球將是
21世紀天文學的未來。
01:44
the future of astronomy
for the 21st century.
for the 21st century.
26
92089
3415
01:48
We have an array
of existing telescopes already,
of existing telescopes already,
27
96135
3232
現在已經有一組天文望遠鏡陣列,
01:51
in the Andes mountains in Chile,
28
99391
2032
座落在智利的安地斯山脈上了;
01:53
and that's soon to be joined by a really
sensational array of new capability.
sensational array of new capability.
29
101447
5137
而且不久之後,
還會有更強大的觀測陣列加入。
還會有更強大的觀測陣列加入。
01:58
There will be two international groups
that are going to be building
that are going to be building
30
106608
3199
有兩個國際組織將會在這裡
建造巨型望遠鏡,
建造巨型望遠鏡,
它對於光線極為靈敏,
就如同我們的眼睛一樣。
就如同我們的眼睛一樣。
02:01
giant telescopes, sensitive
to optical radiation, as our eyes are.
to optical radiation, as our eyes are.
31
109831
5476
02:07
There will be a survey telescope
32
115669
1871
還有巡天望遠鏡,
02:09
that will be scanning the sky
every few nights.
every few nights.
33
117564
3320
它會每隔幾天
完成掃描夜空一次。
完成掃描夜空一次。
02:13
There will be radio telescopes,
34
121366
1526
還有電波望遠鏡,
02:14
sensitive to long-wavelength
radio radiation.
radio radiation.
35
122916
3508
能夠觀察長波長的電波。
02:18
And then there will be
telescopes in space.
telescopes in space.
36
126448
3115
太空中還會有一座新的望遠鏡。
02:21
There'll be a successor
to the Hubble Space Telescope;
to the Hubble Space Telescope;
37
129587
2897
即將接替現有的哈伯太空望遠鏡,
02:24
it's called the James Webb Telescope,
38
132508
2037
命名為「詹姆斯˙韋伯太空望遠鏡」,
02:26
and it will be launched in 2018.
39
134569
2485
將在 2018年發射升空。
還有名為 TESS 的觀測衛星
02:29
There'll be a satellite called TESS
40
137078
1706
02:30
that will discover planets
outside of our solar system.
outside of our solar system.
41
138808
3373
專門尋找位在太陽系之外
的其他行星。
的其他行星。
02:36
For the last decade,
I've been leading a group --
I've been leading a group --
42
144259
2630
我在過去的十年,
帶領了一個團隊 --
帶領了一個團隊 --
02:38
a consortium -- international group,
43
146913
2217
一個國際聯盟組織,
02:41
to build what will be, when it's finished,
44
149154
2983
負責建造一座
即將成為全世界
即將成為全世界
02:44
the largest optical
telescope in existence.
telescope in existence.
45
152161
3304
最大的光學望遠鏡,
02:47
It's called the Giant
Magellan Telescope, or GMT.
Magellan Telescope, or GMT.
46
155489
3656
稱為「巨型麥哲倫望遠鏡」,縮寫為 GMT,
02:51
This telescope is going to have mirrors
that are 8.4 meters in diameter --
that are 8.4 meters in diameter --
47
159748
4733
這座望遠鏡中將會若干個鏡片,
每個鏡片直徑為8.4公尺,
02:56
each of the mirrors.
48
164505
1162
就是差不多 27 英尺。
02:57
That's almost 27 feet.
49
165691
1639
02:59
So it dwarfs this stage -- maybe
out to the fourth row in this audience.
out to the fourth row in this audience.
50
167354
4472
它可以完全遮住這個講台,
也許還能延伸到第四排座位。
也許還能延伸到第四排座位。
03:03
Each of the seven mirrors
in this telescope
in this telescope
51
171850
3024
這具望遠鏡的七面鏡片,
03:06
will be almost 27 feet in diameter.
52
174898
3784
每ㄧ片直徑差不多 27 英尺。
03:10
Together, the seven mirrors
in this telescope will comprise
in this telescope will comprise
53
178706
3928
七面鏡片全部加起來組合成
直徑80 英呎的望眼鏡。
直徑80 英呎的望眼鏡。
03:14
80 feet in diameter.
54
182658
2041
03:16
So, essentially the size
of this entire auditorium.
of this entire auditorium.
55
184723
2958
所以實質上,跟這個禮堂一樣大。
03:20
The whole telescope will stand
about 43 meters high,
about 43 meters high,
56
188448
3646
這座望遠鏡大約 43 公尺高。
03:24
and again, being in Rio,
57
192118
2690
同樣地,來到里約,
03:26
some of you have been to see
the statue of the giant Christ.
the statue of the giant Christ.
58
194832
3619
有些人可能已經看過巨大的耶穌雕像。
03:30
The scale is comparable in height;
59
198475
1829
它們的大小差不多;
03:32
in fact, it's smaller
than this telescope will be.
than this telescope will be.
60
200328
3237
事實上,雕像比望遠鏡小一些。
03:36
It's comparable to the size
of the Statue of Liberty.
of the Statue of Liberty.
61
204192
3088
望遠鏡的尺寸相當於自由女神像。
03:39
And it's going to be housed
in an enclosure that's 22 stories --
in an enclosure that's 22 stories --
62
207721
4049
它即將安裝於一座 22 層的
建物內-總高 60 公尺高。
建物內-總高 60 公尺高。
03:43
60 meters high.
63
211794
1899
03:45
But it's an unusual building
to protect this telescope.
to protect this telescope.
64
213717
3002
為了保護這座望遠鏡
它的設計不同於一般建築,
它的設計不同於一般建築,
03:48
It will have open windows to the sky,
65
216743
1786
它將有個朝向天空的窗口,
03:50
be able to point and look at the sky,
66
218553
2348
能夠直視天空,
03:52
and it will actually rotate on a base --
67
220925
2628
而且它將靠著底座旋轉 -
03:55
2,000 tons of rotating building.
68
223577
3475
底座是重達2000噸的
旋轉建築物。
旋轉建築物。
03:59
The Giant Magellan Telescope
will have 10 times the resolution
will have 10 times the resolution
69
227719
4833
GMT 擁有哈伯太空望遠鏡
十倍的解析度。
十倍的解析度。
04:04
of the Hubble Space Telescope.
70
232576
1739
04:06
It will be 20 million times
more sensitive than the human eye.
more sensitive than the human eye.
71
234934
4060
它的敏感度是肉眼的兩千萬多倍。
04:11
And it may, for the first time ever,
be capable of finding life on planets
be capable of finding life on planets
72
239593
6136
它讓我們第一次能夠
在太陽系以外的行星尋找生命。
在太陽系以外的行星尋找生命。
04:17
outside of our solar system.
73
245753
2010
04:20
It's going to allow us to look back
at the first light in the universe --
at the first light in the universe --
74
248469
4373
它能讓我們看見宇宙中第一束光芒--
04:24
literally, the dawn of the cosmos.
75
252866
2367
就字面意思:宇宙黎明。
04:27
The cosmic dawn.
76
255257
1768
宇宙的黎明。
04:29
It's a telescope that's
going to allow us to peer back,
going to allow us to peer back,
77
257763
3754
它能讓我們看見過去,
04:33
witness galaxies as they were
when they were actually assembling,
when they were actually assembling,
78
261541
3785
看見銀河系形成時的樣子,
04:37
the first black holes in the universe,
the first galaxies.
the first galaxies.
79
265350
3341
看見第一批黑洞
以及第一批出現的銀河系。
以及第一批出現的銀河系。
04:41
Now, for thousands of years,
we have been studying the cosmos,
we have been studying the cosmos,
80
269690
4608
人類觀察宇宙已有千年的時間,
04:46
we've been wondering
about our place in the universe.
about our place in the universe.
81
274322
2654
思索着我們在浩瀚宇宙中的角色。
04:49
The ancient Greeks told us
82
277000
1665
古希臘人告訴我們
04:50
that the Earth was the center
of the universe.
of the universe.
83
278689
2482
地球是宇宙的中心。
04:53
Five hundred years ago,
Copernicus displaced the Earth,
Copernicus displaced the Earth,
84
281195
3626
五百年前,哥白尼 推翻了這個概念,
04:56
and put the Sun
at the heart of the cosmos.
at the heart of the cosmos.
85
284845
2791
並將太陽放在宇宙的中心。
05:00
And as we've learned over the centuries,
86
288785
2054
幾世紀以,我們學到很多 -
05:02
since Galileo Galilei,
the Italian scientist,
the Italian scientist,
87
290863
2718
自從 伽利略 這位義大利科學家
05:05
first turned, in that time, a two-inch,
very small telescope, to the sky,
very small telescope, to the sky,
88
293605
5250
第一次將一個兩寸直徑的
小望遠鏡指向天際,
小望遠鏡指向天際,
05:10
every time we have built
larger telescopes,
larger telescopes,
89
298879
3015
之後,每次我們建造更大的望遠鏡時,
05:13
we have learned something
about the universe;
about the universe;
90
301918
2199
我們對宇宙就有更多認識;
05:16
we've made discoveries, without exception.
91
304141
2826
毫無例外地,每次都有新發現。
05:20
We've learned in the 20th century
that the universe is expanding
that the universe is expanding
92
308908
3737
在二十世紀,我們發現了宇宙在膨脹。
05:24
and that our own solar system
is not at the center of that expansion.
is not at the center of that expansion.
93
312669
4724
而且太陽系並非宇宙膨脹中心。
05:29
We know now that the universe
is made of about 100 billion galaxies
is made of about 100 billion galaxies
94
317757
5279
現今我們知道宇宙是由
大約一千億個銀河系構成,
大約一千億個銀河系構成,
05:35
that are visible to us,
95
323060
1650
這是我們能看到的數量。
05:36
and each one of those galaxies
has 100 billion stars within it.
has 100 billion stars within it.
96
324734
5411
而每個銀河系都有千億個恆星在其中。
05:43
So we're looking now
at the deepest image of the cosmos
at the deepest image of the cosmos
97
331234
2862
你現在看到的是
我們所能拍攝到宇宙最深處的影像。
05:46
that's ever been taken.
98
334120
1499
05:48
It was taken using
the Hubble Space Telescope,
the Hubble Space Telescope,
99
336015
2818
這是哈伯太空望遠鏡所拍攝,
05:50
and by pointing the telescope at what
was previously a blank region of sky,
was previously a blank region of sky,
100
338857
4890
在哈伯升空之前
這裡曾是一片空白的天空。
這裡曾是一片空白的天空。
05:55
before the launch of Hubble.
101
343771
1599
05:57
And if you can imagine this tiny area,
102
345394
2263
想像一下這一小片區域,
05:59
it's only one-fiftieth
of the size of the full moon.
of the size of the full moon.
103
347681
3330
只是我們看到滿月的五十分之一。
06:03
So, if you can imagine the full moon.
104
351035
2040
所以,像一下月圓的樣子。
06:05
And there are now 10,000 galaxies
visible within that image.
visible within that image.
105
353099
4138
這張照片中能看見大約一萬個銀河系。
06:09
And the faintness of those images
and the tiny size is only a result
and the tiny size is only a result
106
357782
4678
銀河系看起來小,光線微弱
是因為他們離我們非常遙遠。
06:14
of the fact that those galaxies
are so far away, the vast distances.
are so far away, the vast distances.
107
362484
4407
06:18
And each of those galaxies
may contain within it
may contain within it
108
366915
2933
但每一個銀河系當中,
06:21
a few billion or even hundreds
of billions of individual stars.
of billions of individual stars.
109
369872
5009
都有數十億甚至數千億個恆星。
06:27
Telescopes are like time machines.
110
375591
2019
望遠鏡也像時光機。
06:29
So the farther back we look in space,
the further back we see in time.
the further back we see in time.
111
377634
4463
我們看的距離越遙遠
所看見的就是更久遠的過去。
所看見的就是更久遠的過去。
06:34
And they're like light buckets --
literally, they collect light.
literally, they collect light.
112
382470
3186
它也像是能收集光線的桶子-
06:37
So larger the bucket,
the larger the mirror we have,
the larger the mirror we have,
113
385680
3234
桶子越大,鏡面也越大;
06:40
the more light we can see,
and the farther back we can view.
and the farther back we can view.
114
388938
3410
我們能看見越多的光線,
也就能看見更久遠的過去。
也就能看見更久遠的過去。
06:45
So, we've learned in the last century
115
393610
2271
所以在上個世紀我們發現
06:47
that there are exotic objects
in the universe -- black holes.
in the universe -- black holes.
116
395905
2934
宇宙中有著非常奇異的物體 -- 黑洞。
06:50
We've even learned
that there's dark matter and dark energy
that there's dark matter and dark energy
117
398863
2777
我們也發現看不見的
「暗物質」和「暗能量」的存在。
「暗物質」和「暗能量」的存在。
06:53
that we can't see.
118
401664
1211
06:55
So you're looking now
at an actual image of dark matter.
at an actual image of dark matter.
119
403218
3558
你現在看的是一張「暗物質」的照片。
06:58
(Laughter)
120
406800
1150
(笑聲)
06:59
You got it. Not all audiences get that.
121
407974
2643
你對了。不是所有觀眾「看得到」。
07:02
(Laughter)
122
410641
1765
(笑)
07:04
So the way we infer
the presence of dark matter --
the presence of dark matter --
123
412430
2724
所以我們如何推測「暗物質」的存在 ?
07:07
we can't see it -- but there's
an unmistakable tug, due to gravity.
an unmistakable tug, due to gravity.
124
415178
4695
我們看不到它們- 但是有引力場的存在。
07:13
We now can look out,
we see this sea of galaxies
we see this sea of galaxies
125
421302
3378
我們看看這銀河系的星海
07:16
in a universe that's expanding.
126
424704
1777
處在一個不斷膨脹的宇宙中。
07:18
What I do myself is to measure
the expansion of the universe,
the expansion of the universe,
127
426862
3303
我自己的工作是測量宇宙的膨脹。
07:22
and one of the projects
that I carried out in the 1990s
that I carried out in the 1990s
128
430189
3141
我在 1990年代參加的一項計畫
07:25
used the Hubble Space Telescope to measure
how fast the universe is expanding.
how fast the universe is expanding.
129
433354
5116
用哈伯望遠鏡測量宇宙膨脹的速度。
07:31
We can now trace back to 14 billion years.
130
439356
3966
我們現在可以追溯到 140億年前。
07:35
We've learned over time
that stars have individual histories;
that stars have individual histories;
131
443731
4336
知道每一個星球
都有自己的一段歷史;
都有自己的一段歷史;
07:40
that is, they have birth,
they have middle ages
they have middle ages
132
448091
2929
它們有出生,有中年時期,
07:43
and some of them
even have dramatic deaths.
even have dramatic deaths.
133
451044
2330
有些很戲劇性的死亡。
07:45
So the embers from those stars actually
then form the new stars that we see,
then form the new stars that we see,
134
453829
6115
由這些死亡星球的殘骸
變成了新的星球,
變成了新的星球,
07:51
most of which turn out to have
planets going around them.
planets going around them.
135
459968
3811
甚至有些還有行星圍繞著它們。
07:56
And one of the really surprising results
in the last 20 years
in the last 20 years
136
464272
4035
過去 20年裡最驚人的發現之一
08:00
has the been the discovery
of other planets going around other stars.
of other planets going around other stars.
137
468331
4126
就是圍繞著其他恆星公轉的行星。
08:04
These are called exoplanets.
138
472481
1906
它們是「太陽系外行星」。
08:06
And until 1995, we didn't even know
the existence of any other planets,
the existence of any other planets,
139
474411
4996
直到 1995年,我們
才知道其它行星的存在-
才知道其它行星的存在-
除了繞著我們太陽旋轉之外的行星。
08:11
other than going around our own sun.
140
479431
2334
08:14
But now, there are almost 2,000
other planets orbiting other stars
other planets orbiting other stars
141
482360
6421
但是現在,有大約 2000個
太陽系外行星-
太陽系外行星-
08:20
that we can now detect,
measure masses for.
measure masses for.
142
488805
2560
我們能觀測且測量質量。
08:23
There are 500 of those
that are multiple-planet systems.
that are multiple-planet systems.
143
491389
3672
500個「多行星」系統,
08:27
And there are 4,000 --
and still counting -- other candidates
and still counting -- other candidates
144
495085
3960
4000 個數量仍在增加的
「太陽系外行星」的候選者。
「太陽系外行星」的候選者。
08:31
for planets orbiting other stars.
145
499069
2214
08:33
They come in a brooling variety
of different kinds.
of different kinds.
146
501790
2973
它們有各種形式的呈現。
08:37
There are Jupiter-like
planets that are hot,
planets that are hot,
147
505134
3286
有類似木星、溫度很高的星球,
08:40
there are other planets that are icy,
there are water worlds
there are water worlds
148
508444
4258
有冰的、有水的,
08:44
and there are rocky planets
like the Earth, so-called "super-Earths,"
like the Earth, so-called "super-Earths,"
149
512726
3254
有全是石頭的行星、
像地球一樣- 叫做「超級地球」,
像地球一樣- 叫做「超級地球」,
08:48
and there have even been planets
that have been speculated diamond worlds.
that have been speculated diamond worlds.
150
516004
4687
甚至還有被認為全都是鑽石的行星。
08:53
So we know there's at least one planet,
our own Earth, in which there is life.
our own Earth, in which there is life.
151
521794
4955
所以我們知道至少有一個星球有生命-
我們的地球。
我們的地球。
08:58
We've even found planets
that are orbiting two stars.
that are orbiting two stars.
152
526773
4160
我們甚至發現了繞著兩個星球公轉的行星。
09:02
That's no longer the province
of science fiction.
of science fiction.
153
530957
3181
這不再是只存在於科幻小說中的情節。
09:07
So around our own planet,
we know there's life,
we know there's life,
154
535211
2214
所以我們知道,在地球之外會有生命。
09:09
we've developed a complex life,
we now can question our own origins.
we now can question our own origins.
155
537449
5716
我們已經發展出複雜的生命體,
現在可以追溯起源。
現在可以追溯起源。
09:15
And given all that we've discovered,
the overwhelming numbers now suggest
the overwhelming numbers now suggest
156
543728
4220
根據我們所發現的數字顯示,
巨大的行星-
巨大的行星-
09:19
that there may be millions, perhaps --
maybe even hundreds of millions --
maybe even hundreds of millions --
157
547972
4072
可能會有幾百萬, 甚至幾億個行星 -
09:24
of other stars that are close enough --
158
552068
2779
離恆星夠近-
09:26
just the right distance from their stars
that they're orbiting --
that they're orbiting --
159
554871
3290
也正好和它公轉中心有適當的距離-
09:30
to have the existence of liquid water
and maybe could potentially support life.
and maybe could potentially support life.
160
558185
5536
擁有能夠支持生命的液態水。
09:36
So we marvel now at those odds,
the overwhelming odds,
the overwhelming odds,
161
564121
4174
所以我們現在驚嘆於這些巧合,
09:40
and the amazing thing
is that within the next decade,
is that within the next decade,
162
568319
2943
以及在下個十年將會有驚人發現,
09:43
the GMT may be able to take spectra
of the atmospheres of those planets,
of the atmospheres of those planets,
163
571286
5230
GMT也許可以採集這些
行星的大氣層頻譜,
行星的大氣層頻譜,
09:48
and determine whether or not
they have the potential for life.
they have the potential for life.
164
576540
3512
來決定它們是否有可能孕育生命。
09:53
So, what is the GMT project?
165
581702
1780
所以,什麼是GMT計畫?
09:55
It's an international project.
166
583506
1874
這是一個國際計畫。
09:57
It includes Australia, South Korea,
and I'm happy to say, being here in Rio,
and I'm happy to say, being here in Rio,
167
585404
5849
參與有澳大利亞,韓國,並且在里約這裡—
10:03
that the newest partner
in our telescope is Brazil.
in our telescope is Brazil.
168
591277
3035
我很高興地說,我們有新成員:巴西。
10:06
(Applause)
169
594825
4459
(掌聲)
10:11
It also includes a number of institutions
across the United States,
across the United States,
170
599308
4790
參與計畫的還有一些美國機構,
10:16
including Harvard University,
171
604122
3096
包括哈佛大學、
10:19
the Smithsonian
and the Carnegie Institutions,
and the Carnegie Institutions,
172
607242
2944
斯密森學會、和卡耐基學院、
10:22
and the Universities of Arizona, Chicago,
Texas-Austin and Texas A&M University.
Texas-Austin and Texas A&M University.
173
610210
6467
亞利桑那大學、芝加哥大學、
德克薩斯奧斯丁大學、和德州農工大學。
德克薩斯奧斯丁大學、和德州農工大學。
10:29
It also involves Chile.
174
617074
1887
智利也參與其中。
10:32
So, the making of the mirrors
in this telescope is also fascinating
in this telescope is also fascinating
175
620723
3212
望遠鏡鏡片製造本身就很迷人。
10:35
in its own right.
176
623959
1365
10:37
Take chunks of glass, melt them
in a furnace that is itself rotating.
in a furnace that is itself rotating.
177
625348
4635
取一大塊的玻璃,放到一個
旋轉著的熔爐中熔化。
旋轉著的熔爐中熔化。
10:42
This happens underneath
the football stadium
the football stadium
178
630751
2091
這是在亞利桑那州大學
橄欖球場底下進行。
橄欖球場底下進行。
10:44
at the University of Arizona.
179
632866
2042
10:46
It's tucked away under 52,000 seats.
180
634932
2936
它藏在五萬兩千張椅子之下。
10:49
Nobody know it's happening.
181
637892
1401
沒人知道他的存在。
10:51
And there's essentially
a rotating cauldron.
a rotating cauldron.
182
639738
3324
那本來就有一個旋轉時的大鍋。
10:55
The mirrors are cast
and they're cooled very slowly,
and they're cooled very slowly,
183
643086
3035
鏡片成形,並且慢慢冷卻,
10:58
and then they're polished
to an exquisite precision.
to an exquisite precision.
184
646145
2913
然後精緻打磨。
11:01
And so, if you think
about the precision of these mirrors,
about the precision of these mirrors,
185
649637
3077
你可以想一下鏡片的精細度:
11:04
the bumps on the mirror,
over the entire 27 feet,
over the entire 27 feet,
186
652738
4553
隆起顆粒在直徑27呎
的整個鏡面上,
的整個鏡面上,
11:09
amount to less
than one-millionth of an inch.
than one-millionth of an inch.
187
657315
3679
總合不超過百萬分之一英寸。
11:13
So, can you visualize that?
188
661018
1524
所以你能想像到嗎?
11:15
Ow!
189
663089
1151
噢!
11:16
(Laughter)
190
664264
1324
(笑)
11:17
That's one five-thousandths
of the width of one of my hairs,
of the width of one of my hairs,
191
665612
6271
是我這根頭髮直徑的五千分之一,
11:23
over this entire 27 feet.
192
671907
2137
在27呎的鏡面之上。
11:26
It's a spectacular achievement.
193
674068
1870
這是一個驚人的成果。
11:27
It's what allows us to have
the precision that we will have.
the precision that we will have.
194
675962
3315
它讓我們獲得我們想要的精度。
11:32
So, what does that precision buy us?
195
680876
2417
那麼,這樣的精度能帶來什麼呢?
11:35
So the GMT, if you can imagine --
196
683843
2739
用GMT,想像一下。
11:38
if I were to hold up a coin,
which I just happen to have,
which I just happen to have,
197
686606
4449
如果我舉起這- 我剛好有-
11:43
and I look at the face of that coin,
I can see from here
I can see from here
198
691079
4991
我從這個距離看到上面的臉,
11:48
the writing on the coin;
I can see the face on that coin.
I can see the face on that coin.
199
696094
3985
看清楚上面的文字和肖像。
11:52
My guess that even in the front row,
you can't see that.
you can't see that.
200
700103
3114
我猜即使第一排的觀眾也看不到這些。
11:55
But if we were to turn
the Giant Magellan Telescope,
the Giant Magellan Telescope,
201
703645
2862
如果我用GMT來看
11:58
all 80-feet diameter
that we see in this auditorium,
that we see in this auditorium,
202
706531
3373
我們會在這禮堂用直徑80英尺的GMT
12:01
and point it 200 miles away,
203
709928
3069
對準200英里(約320公里)以外
12:05
if I were standing in São Paulo,
we could resolve the face of this coin.
we could resolve the face of this coin.
204
713021
5868
如果我站在聖保羅,
大家依舊可以看清這個硬幣。
大家依舊可以看清這個硬幣。
12:10
That's the extraordinary resolution
and power of this telescope.
and power of this telescope.
205
718913
3607
就是這個望遠鏡非凡的解析度與能力。
12:15
And if we were --
206
723761
2698
如果我們-
12:18
(Applause)
207
726483
3870
(掌聲)
12:22
If an astronaut went up to the Moon,
a quarter of a million miles away,
a quarter of a million miles away,
208
730377
4601
如果太空人到了月球,離此 25萬 哩外,
12:27
and lit a candle -- a single candle --
209
735002
2916
然後點起一根蠟燭- 就一根 -
12:29
then we would be able
to detect it, using the GMT.
to detect it, using the GMT.
210
737942
2810
我們用GMT 能看得到。
12:33
Quite extraordinary.
211
741347
1282
相當非凡。
12:37
This is a simulated image
of a cluster in a nearby galaxy.
of a cluster in a nearby galaxy.
212
745334
5681
這是附近銀河系的星團模擬圖。
12:43
"Nearby" is astronomical,
it's all relative.
it's all relative.
213
751039
2585
「附近」是「天文觀測」的相對的概念。
12:45
It's tens of millions of light-years away.
214
753648
2503
其實它離我們有上千萬光年。
12:48
This is what this cluster would look like.
215
756175
2014
這是星團的大概樣子。
12:50
So look at those four bright objects,
216
758213
2168
看這四個明亮的物體,
12:52
and now lets compare it with a camera
on the Hubble Space Telescope.
on the Hubble Space Telescope.
217
760405
4007
現在我們拿哈伯望遠鏡上
的照相機相比。
的照相機相比。
12:56
You can see faint detail
that starts to come through.
that starts to come through.
218
764436
3179
你可以看到模糊的細節顯露出來了。
12:59
And now finally -- and look how dramatic
this is -- this is what the GMT will see.
this is -- this is what the GMT will see.
219
767639
6295
最後看看這個- 多麼驚人-
由 GMT 看到的圖像。
由 GMT 看到的圖像。
13:05
So, keep your eyes on those
bright images again.
bright images again.
220
773958
2370
注意那幾個亮點。
13:08
This is what we see on one of the most
powerful existing telescopes on the Earth,
powerful existing telescopes on the Earth,
221
776352
4418
這是用現在地球上最強的
望遠鏡看到的,
望遠鏡看到的,
13:12
and this, again, what the GMT will see.
222
780794
2881
然後這個GMT看到的。
13:16
Extraordinary precision.
223
784554
1858
非凡的精確度。
13:18
So, where are we?
224
786975
1322
那麼,我們到哪?
13:20
We have now leveled the top
of the mountaintop in Chile.
of the mountaintop in Chile.
225
788321
3182
我們現在已經把智利的山頂弄平了。
13:23
We blasted that off.
226
791527
1763
我們炸平了它。
13:25
We've tested and polished
the first mirror.
the first mirror.
227
793314
2719
我們已測試與拋光第一面鏡片。
13:28
We've cast the second
and the third mirrors.
and the third mirrors.
228
796057
2589
已鑄造第二面和第三面。
13:30
And we're about to cast the fourth mirror.
229
798670
2269
我們即將鑄造第四面鏡片。
13:32
We had a series of reviews this year,
230
800963
1887
今年我們做了一系列的審查,
13:34
international panels
that came in and reviewed us,
that came in and reviewed us,
231
802874
2542
國際委員會審查我們,
13:37
and said, "You're ready
to go to construction."
to go to construction."
232
805440
2531
他們說:「你們已經能開始建造了」。
13:39
And so we plan on building this telescope
with the first four mirrors.
with the first four mirrors.
233
807995
3349
所以我們計劃用前四面鏡片
建造這個望遠鏡。
建造這個望遠鏡。
13:43
We want to get on the air quickly,
and be taking science data --
and be taking science data --
234
811368
4129
我們想儘早完工,開始收集科學數據-
13:47
what we astronomers call
"first light," in 2121.
"first light," in 2121.
235
815521
4579
天文學家所謂的 2021年「第一曙光」。
13:53
And the full telescope will be finished
in the middle of the next decade,
in the middle of the next decade,
236
821031
3446
整個望遠鏡將在未來的十年中期完工,
13:56
with all seven mirrors.
237
824501
1396
七面鏡片將悉數完成。
13:58
So we're now poised to look back
at the distant universe,
at the distant universe,
238
826542
3558
我們將回顧遙遠的宇宙,
14:02
the cosmic dawn.
239
830124
1308
宇宙之黎明。
14:03
We'll be able to study other planets
in exquisite detail.
in exquisite detail.
240
831804
4133
我們將能詳細研究其它的行星。
14:08
But for me, one of the most
exciting things about building the GMT
exciting things about building the GMT
241
836424
3737
但對我而言,建造GMT最令人興奮的 -
14:12
is the opportunity
to actually discover something
to actually discover something
242
840185
2830
莫過於真正探索事物的機會,
14:15
that we don't know about --
that we can't even imagine at this point,
that we can't even imagine at this point,
243
843039
3270
探索未知的- 甚至現在無法想像的事物,
14:18
something completely new.
244
846333
1642
一個全新的世界。
14:20
And my hope is that with the construction
of this and other facilities,
of this and other facilities,
245
848713
3630
我的希望是這些設施的建造
14:24
that many young women and men
will be inspired to reach for the stars.
will be inspired to reach for the stars.
246
852367
5210
將能鼓舞年輕人去追求探索這些星球。
14:30
Thank you very much.
247
858036
1272
很感謝。
14:31
Obrigado.
248
859332
1475
謝謝(葡語)
14:32
(Applause)
249
860831
5893
(掌聲)
14:38
Bruno Giussani: Thank you, Wendy.
250
866748
1602
布魯諾:謝謝你,溫蒂。
14:40
Stay with me, because
I have a question for you.
I have a question for you.
251
868374
2267
等一下,我有個問題要請教你。
14:42
You mentioned different facilities.
252
870665
2397
你提到了不同的設施。
14:45
So the Magellan Telescope is going up,
but also ALMA and others in Chile
but also ALMA and others in Chile
253
873086
4853
所以說麥哲倫望遠鏡正在阿爾馬,智利
14:49
and elsewhere, including in Hawaii.
254
877963
2136
以及夏威夷等地建造。
14:52
Is it about cooperation
and complementarity, or about competition?
and complementarity, or about competition?
255
880772
4076
它們會涉及合作,互補或者競爭嗎?
14:56
I know there's competition in terms
of funding, but what about the science?
of funding, but what about the science?
256
884872
3722
我知道有關經費的競爭,
那麼科學方面呢?
那麼科學方面呢?
15:00
Wendy Freedman: In terms of the science,
they're very complementary.
they're very complementary.
257
888618
3217
溫蒂:科學方面是完全互補的。
15:03
The telescopes that are in space,
the telescopes on the ground,
the telescopes on the ground,
258
891859
3027
不論是太空或是地面望遠鏡,
15:06
telescopes with different
wavelength capability,
wavelength capability,
259
894910
2430
探測不同波長的望遠鏡,
15:09
telescopes even that are similar,
but different instruments --
but different instruments --
260
897364
2943
相似卻又不同的望遠鏡設備-
15:12
they will all look at different parts
of the questions that we're asking.
of the questions that we're asking.
261
900331
3746
它們探索問題的不同層面。
15:16
So when we discover other planets,
we'll be able to test those observations,
we'll be able to test those observations,
262
904101
3627
當我們探索行星的時,
我們將能夠嘗試不同的觀測、
我們將能夠嘗試不同的觀測、
15:19
we'll be able to measure the atmospheres,
263
907752
2088
測量大氣狀況、
15:21
be able to look in space
with very high resolution.
with very high resolution.
264
909864
2875
以及能以高清晰度來觀察太空。
15:24
So, they're very complementary.
265
912763
1477
所以他們都是互補的。
15:26
You're right about
the funding, we compete;
the funding, we compete;
266
914264
2237
資金方面,你是對的,我們有競爭。
15:28
but scientifically,
it's very complementary.
it's very complementary.
267
916525
2665
但是科學上,我們是互補的。
15:31
BG: Wendy, thank you very much
for coming to TEDGlobal.
for coming to TEDGlobal.
268
919214
2653
布魯諾:溫蒂,十分感謝你能來參與 TED Global。
溫蒂:謝謝你們。
15:33
WF: Thank you.
269
921891
1151
15:35
(Applause)
270
923066
1688
(掌聲)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Wendy Freedman - AstronomerWendy Freedman led the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, a massive earthbound observatory.
Why you should listen
Wendy Freedman and her colleagues raced to build the world’s first next-generation telescope. The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), in northern Chile, is one of three mega-telescopes currently under construction in the Atacama desert region (The others are the ALMA and the European Extremely Large Telescope, E-ELT).
The GMT will have 10 times more resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope. When it is finished, Freedman could be among those who answer one of astronomy’s greatest riddles: are there any other Earth-like planets out there? No stranger to big questions, Freedman and her colleagues at the Carnegie Observatories are also refining the measurement of the Hubble Constant, which could change our understanding of the speed of our expanding universe.
More profile about the speakerThe GMT will have 10 times more resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope. When it is finished, Freedman could be among those who answer one of astronomy’s greatest riddles: are there any other Earth-like planets out there? No stranger to big questions, Freedman and her colleagues at the Carnegie Observatories are also refining the measurement of the Hubble Constant, which could change our understanding of the speed of our expanding universe.
Wendy Freedman | Speaker | TED.com