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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 8:56 am to squid_hunt
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).
Posted on 7/28/22 at 9:00 am to I20goon
quote:
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 I have a telescope that can see 3 miles and I can't see the edge of the lake I am sitting in, what is my assumption about the lake and my position?
Posted on 7/28/22 at 9:08 am to I20goon
quote:
We don't know if there is an edge to the universe and if there is one where it is.
Do we know we are not at the edge? Why wouldn’t we be? Did things blow past us in the bang?
Posted on 7/28/22 at 10:04 am to I20goon
quote:
Three things...
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).
We can see 13.8 billion years and they also say the Universe is 13.8 billion years old, his kind of point stands? In theory.
https://www.space.com/24054-how-old-is-the-universe.html
quote:
Age may only be a number, but when it comes to the age of the universe, it's a pretty important one. According to research, the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old. How did scientists determine how many candles to put on the universe's birthday cake? They can determine the age of the universe using two different methods: by studying the oldest objects within the universe and measuring how fast it is expanding.
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