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Relative location of the supercluster
I'm not an astronomer, and have little more than high school learning and an
inqusitive mind... Just warning you of a potential ignorance hazard ahead. To my knowledge, the current popular theory is that the universe is expanding from the big bang. This is where I probably make my first mistkae, but the rest is still relevant, even if I make a few assumptions. If the universe is expanding from a central point, I view it as a sphere. Now, if all the galaxies and clusters of galaxies and superclusters are heading away from this point, can our position relative to this point be mapped? I have to dumb it down for my own benefit. I imagine the universe as a sphere, similar to a globe. Any spot on this globe can be identified with a latitude and longitude, and if we add another axis, so height from the center of the globe, we can identify any spot within the sphere. Do we know where we lie in relation to surrounding objects, or to the center? Or have a got a twisted concept? Any information, links, and such would be appreciated. |
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Pok wrote:
To my knowledge, the current popular theory is that the universe is expanding from the big bang. This is where I probably make my first mistkae, but the rest is still relevant, even if I make a few assumptions. If the universe is expanding from a central point, I view it as a sphere. Now, if all the galaxies and clusters of galaxies and superclusters are heading away from this point, can our position relative to this point be mapped? I have to dumb it down for my own benefit. I imagine the universe as a sphere, similar to a globe. Any spot on this globe can be identified with a latitude and longitude, and if we add another axis, so height from the center of the globe, we can identify any spot within the sphere. Do we know where we lie in relation to surrounding objects, or to the center? Or have a got a twisted concept? Any information, links, and such would be appreciated. With respect to the 'big bang' theory the problem with your analogy is that space itself is expanding; it's not the case that objects in the universe are moving outward from an identifiable centre. It's believed that wherever you might be in the universe, distant objects in every direction will appear to recede as if you were at the centre -- but no one location is 'privileged' to be the origin for all the rest. A pretty twisted concept, I admit. See http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~dkoks/Faq/Relativity/GR/centre.html; also article I10 at http://sciastro.astronomy.net/sci.astro.9.FAQ, and Ned Wright's article on the subject at http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/nocenter.html. For some nicely presented views of our surroundings at various scales, from the nearest few stars right up to galactic superclusters, see http://www.anzwers.org/free/universe/index.html. -- Odysseus |
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In article , Odysseus
wrote: For some nicely presented views of our surroundings at various scales, from the nearest few stars right up to galactic superclusters, see http://www.anzwers.org/free/universe/index.html. Thanks for the URL.Bill. |
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With respect to the 'big bang' theory the problem with your analogy
is that space itself is expanding; it's not the case that objects in the universe are moving outward from an identifiable centre. It's believed that wherever you might be in the universe, distant objects in every direction will appear to recede as if you were at the centre -- but no one location is 'privileged' to be the origin for all the rest. A pretty twisted concept, I admit. See http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~dkoks/Faq/Relativity/GR/centre.html; Interesting point of view, the universe as we know it could very well be a part of a larger universe unbeknownst to any of us... and why wouldn't life of some form be possible too in distant galaxies that are out of our scope of sight, with beings just like us pondering about the expanding universe. For some reason, when I think of expanding universe, I envision fog.... Since the craze about Mars, I read an article in the July (i think) issue of astronomy magazine that talked about the goldilock planets saying how venus is too hot for life, mars is too cold, and earth is just right. With our sun in the center and earth orbiting it, being just the right distance away and a whole slew of other factors...it got me thinking, why couldn't there be other galaxies with a planet similar to earth in relation to that galaxy's sun and similar conditions to make it habitable for life?! Just because we can't see that far, doesn't mean it couldn't exist. It makes me think about how truly tiny we as individual humans are in the vast ocean of the universe... I was peeping at mars with my binoculars earlier tonight and it blows my mind that I'm looking at another planet (one that look more like a planet and not a speck of brightness)...one that is just out there (in space)...so far away (even though it is closer than ever to us!) and it looks so tiny, even at 16x, it is smaller than a pea. I can pick it out of the sky and eat it, it is so small...yet, in reality, mars is probably a million times bigger than me, squash me like a bug if it fell on top of me. Imagine being a martian and looking out into the sky and seeing earth as a tiny pea size yummy treat...and a big craze on their planet because it's been thousands of years since they've been this close to earth! ...and what's up with those people on earth constantly throwing out those satellites??! And what about the possible life beyond our limited view of the universe.....maybe there are giants out there with much more knowledge and awareness just peering over at us saying to each other, "ya know, those earthlings don't even have a clue to the scope of the universe...". It's like us watching ants crawl around... do you think ants are intelligent enough to grasp their place in the universe... do you think ants even "think"? ooh, I think it's just bedtime for me... Jean |
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