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re: No matter what direction we point a telescope, we always look toward the Big Bang - why?
Posted on 7/28/22 at 8:17 am to Abstract Queso Dip
Posted on 7/28/22 at 8:17 am to Abstract Queso Dip
quote:
It's because you are looking back in time.
It's not back in time. It's across distances. It just takes a long time for the light to get here. His question is if the earth is not the center of the universe, why is there space 13 billion light years in all directions in a 13.8 billion year old universe.
3
Posted on 7/28/22 at 8:31 am to squid_hunt
quote:
His question is if the earth is not the center of the universe, why is there space 13 billion light years in all directions in a 13.8 billion year old universe.
The earth is the center of the universe, so is everywhere else. Duh.
Posted on 7/28/22 at 8:53 am to squid_hunt
That's because of expansion. It still is because wherever we look the in the observable universe we are always looking back in time to the beginning. His question has nothing to do with spacial distances which we are still trying to understand. There are a lots of questions surround dark energy and how it has influenced the mapable universe. The fact is though we will always be back. We have to look back to formulate models to make predictions on where to look tomorrow. We take past data, utilize the laws of physics, and make predictions. Some of which are theories yet to be observable. GR predicted black holes long before we could ever find them. Now we think we have found one at every major galaxy and even some stray ones flying through open space. There is also the idea of white holes too which is the opposite of a black hole.
Posted on 7/28/22 at 8:56 am to squid_hunt
quote:Three things...
It's not back in time. It's across distances. It just takes a long time for the light to get here. His question is if the earth is not the center of the universe, why is there space 13 billion light years in all directions in a 13.8 billion year old universe
1. In terms of space-time distance IS time because both are defined by light and it's constant speed. We see things how they were. When you look at the sun you are seeing how it was 8 minutes ago.
2. We don't know if there is an edge to the universe and if there is one where it is. If we assume there is an edge, we don't know where it is because of the passage of time (and distance) by which that light traveled. So if you wait a million years, you add a million years of light but at the same time space is inflating at the speed of light (maybe more). So you will never ever see the edge because the edge is moving away from you at the same rate the light is coming back to you. The only way we've gotten to 13.8 billion years is through our own technology being able to see light at various wavelengths. We don't know if there's more beyond that because either the light hasn't made it to us yet, or we don't have the capability to see that wavelength.
3. Since we don't know where the edge is, we don't know if we are in the middle, we only know we can see a fixed radius out. If you're standing somewhere in a completely dark 20,000 sqft warehouse and your flashlight sucks and only illuminates 10 feet in radius, do you know if you are in the middle or not? No, only if you find a wall do you know and we can't find the wall (the edge of the universe).
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