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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Clumping doesn't fix Olber's paradox
Message-ID: <465@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4-Mar-86 16:16:56 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.465
Posted: Tue Mar  4 16:16:56 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Mar-86 05:49:44 EST
References: <8603041333.AA12454@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 23
Summary: yes it does

In article <8603041333.AA12454@s1-b.arpa>, JOSH@YKTVMH.BITNET ("Josh Knight") writes:
> 
> 
> I don't think clumping, no matter what its statistical characteristics
> can avoid the paradox.  Basically, if one extends one's line of sight
> far enough, one finds it ending up on a star, i.e. the entire surface
> is covered with star surface.  At this point it is only surface brightness
> that matters.  Olber's paradox is "why is the night sky dark" not "why
> is the sky not infinitely bright".

The point that one`s line of sight always ends on a star is in fact sensitive
to the nature of the clustering.  If the clustering is arranged hierarchically,
with a suitable fractal dimension, then the average line of sight *will not*
end on a star.  It is not a question of placing the observer at the center
of the universe, any random position *in a galaxy* will have this property.

Nevertheless, such models are unsatisfactory for other reasons.
-- 
"Ma, I've been to another      Ethan Vishniac
 planet!"                      {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
                               ethan@astro.UTEXAS.EDU
                               Department of Astronomy
                               University of Texas