Do we see the light from a star that has "died" and, let's say, it would reach Earth many years later, from past? Let's say the light from a star reached Earth, but that star has died long time ago. I am not sure about one thing: is the light only present? I understant that we perceive it later (for example the light that reaches from Moon to Earth, 1.2 seconds later), but that light is present. Can it be called "from past"?
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1Closely related, if not a dupe: https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/297250/ – Kyle Kanos Jun 23 '17 at 19:06
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6Possible duplicate of How many naked-eye stars have 'died' since they emitted the light we are seeing? – Jon Custer Jun 23 '17 at 19:32
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I just edited the post. – N. Oana Jun 23 '17 at 20:05
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Yes this is true, all that out visual system is collecting and then our brain is processing is "old data". – physicist Jun 23 '17 at 20:27
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Yes, we do indeed see astronomical bodies that might have died by now. We see them as they were in their past. (depending, obviously, on how far they are from us)
An example I can think of would be the Pillars of Creation which almost certainly were destroyed a thousand years ago by a shockwave from a nearby supernova. (This, of course, hasn't been seen yet because the structure is some 7000 light years away from the Earth)
This question will interest you:
Hritik Narayan
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