How Far Away Is It - 2014 Review - Comets & Oort Cloud (1080p)

Welcome to our 2014 Review. It was a very interesting year of discoveries.

The most fascinating news came close to home with the landing of the Rosetta spacecraft on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Because we never really covered comets and the Oort cloud in our segment on the Solar System, we’ll cover them here.

We’ll update to two stories we’ve been following. One is the G2 gas cloud that survive its passage close to Sag A*, our galaxy’s supermassive black hole – something that’s not possible for a gas cloud. The other is the Gaia project. It has transitioned into its operational life mapping a billion Milky Way stars. We’ll take a look at how it sees the Cat’s Eye Nebula.

Next, we’ll cover some Milky Way objects such as the Monkey Head Nebula, and a very interesting multiple star system called XZ Tauri. In the Local Group, we find a theory breaking discovery about globular star clusters. We also have news on an ultra-compact dwarf galaxy with an unexpected black hole; a galaxy halo that is unexpectedly large; and a new look at the Ultra Deep Field.

STEM

[dearheart]

I am happy that kids and people of any age can watch Mr. Butlers videos and learn from them. I was around 7 when I read about the universe and borrowed all the books I could on the topic. At that time there was no internet to provide the information I wanted. Neither in school did anyone teach about the universe, just plain simple physics. Size of atoms and distance of light years and the (un)known size of the universe was clear to me from early age, and before I was a teenager, I enjoyed to investigate the theories about black holes. I hope you all appreciate the exceptional good material that now is online. A big thanks to David Butler!!

[wademichalski]

Your channel deserves WAY more followers it honestly makes me sad. Thank you for the amazing content we appreciate it so much

[sableshepherd]

Your videos are amazing. I was an English major but developed a major interest in physics in my 40's...I've gained so very much from other Physics have found few which mix the mathematics and concepts in such an accessible manner. feeding my brain :)

[jackbuster]

I became hooked when I saw your first video explaining distance calculations across your pool and expanding from there.

Thank you very much, Mr. Butler,   for all the voluntary time you spend making this a fascinating time to be alive.

John

[RobSinclaire]

David, your work is like one coming across a Chest of Treasure - thank you!

[wizzardofpaws]

I've been on a David Butler binge-watching today from 8 in the morning and now it's 10:00 at night. I'm hooked I love this channel

[tracylozano]

You relax me so much .. plus I learn something EVERYTIME I watch your video. Thank you

[rowdeo]

My husband is very impressed with your skills as an educator and so I am. I feel a bit more educated! I am in awe of the galaxy and the fact that we have life on earth. I feel guilty for not understanding how geometry works!I was terrified of math and never knew what math was about as a kid. At 73 I realize how sad it was for women like myself were not encouraged to learn science and math. (ethnicity women marry and have kids and are secretaries) It means a lot to me to have an understanding of how things work ! Thank you.

[jonacacarr]

so much expansion of understanding in just one year. I'm looking forward to the 2015 update. Thank you David !!!

[LeoStaley]

Something that I would have found useful in this video that I think most people don't know: A comet's tail always points away from the sun, not behind it, like we might intuitively suppose.

Otherwise, these videos are so amazing! Could you do a series on the history of the probes we've sent through the solar system and what we've found with them?

[christinestill]

Another amazing and well-organized chapter to add to my favorite video book. If you ever need an "understudy" Dr. Butler, I know the series by heart! already

[BLAZENYCBLACKOPS]

Subscribed, excellent information provided in your work.

[MrHunter]

Thank you for putting these together, I'm in my 40s and enjoy watching anything related to astronomy, physics, etc. ... kinda funny, I hated school and dropped out in the 9th grade. I'm a mechanic now, I love my job and wouldn't change anything. I recently picked up a telescope after years of threatening to get one. These videos are great, and really appreciated that someone took the time to make them, I have learned a lot... much gratitude.

[laneyw]

Love all your videos, David. Thanks for posting and thanks for all your hard work. I have sent your videos to many of my friends, and they loved them, as well.  Keep up the incredible work, and I always look forward to seeing more of them!

[PraveenSr]

2014 was a full 10 years ago which is very hard to believe

[godlesshelp]

Thanks for this series & the updates. I love it all ... Stay well ...
I'm looking forward to the 2015 update ...
Just a suggestion ... You might add a "what to look for in 2016" segment, to keep us looking up ...

[STHFGDBY]

David, I love your video books and single videos subjects like this one. I've learned so much from your videos albeit I have to look at them over and over again in order to take it all in . watching them gives you one thing, it gives you the realization that time, distance, speed and size is totally beyond our real understanding and comprehension because these things are so vast we cannot get our heads around them.

[nitestryker]

Very well done and informative series. I just started getting into astronomy a few months ago as a hobby and your videos helped explain alot of what I could not understand in the books I have read. Thank you.

[drvetsaveyourpet]

What I would give to have a few hours to sit down with someone that has such an understanding of space.

[ttz]

Great Videos!! My son and I have watched your series several times. Keep up the good work!