Where are we in the universe?

[Never Knows Best]

Well from what I understand is they use teliscopes to filter incoming light then spectrum analyze the light to see if there is a shift in color to tell if it's moving away from us or toward us. The only thing wrong is wherever they look it's all in a red shift and moving away from us. So the question is how do you tell where we are in respect to everything else.

If I am wrong about this please let me know.

 

[Peter]

The universe is expanding. Everything is moving away from everything.

 

[Bladen]

Also from observations with the red shift stuff, it would appear that we are accelerating away from everthing else. IIRC.

 

[byosys]

If you define the universe to be infinate (which is not necessarly true), then we (along with ever other point in the universe) are at the center of the universe based on the fact that every number is an equal distance away from infinity.

 

[spikespiegal]

The only thing wrong is wherever they look it's all in a red shift and moving away from us.

Not true. The densityand distribution of galaxies in the universe is like a three dimensional web, or mass of connected soap bubbles due to gravitional attraction.

The Andromeda galaxy is actually headed towards the milky away and not away from it. It's distant galaxies that are moving away, which is an indication the universe is expanding.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: byosys
If you define the universe to be infinate (which is not necessarly true), then we (along with ever other point in the universe) are at the center of the universe based on the fact that every number is an equal distance away from infinity.

Regardless of the size of the universe, we are at the center of the observable universe. (Observable by us)

 

[byosys]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: byosys
If you define the universe to be infinate (which is not necessarly true), then we (along with ever other point in the universe) are at the center of the universe based on the fact that every number is an equal distance away from infinity.

Regardless of the size of the universe, we are at the center of the observable universe. (Observable by us)

Not necessarly. If our view is blocked by something (say a near by star) then we can't see anything past that star. If we can see farther in the opposite direction than we can see in the direction of the star, the center of our observable universe is shifted slightly away from that nearby star. Of course, in the grand scheme of things that offset is probably negligable, but it exits.

 

[imported_Eoman]

I like this sites approximation on how the universe looks and our position in it.

You are here!

you can also zoom in to see more of the known structure up to the solar system level.

 

[Never Knows Best]

Alright that was interesting. I wish they shared how they determined our posistion though.

 

[patentman]

 

[joanknn]

If we look far enough into the universe, what we are looking at is essentially a time machine that help us see into the past, the early days when the universe was first created. This is so becuase light though fast still take a long time to travel to us. So some of the stuff we see is actually dated, what is really there, we probably wouldn't know. So while the red shift is suggesting that the universe is still expanding, how do we know for sure if a reversal is actually not taking place yet? Mind boggling really.

 

[deftron]

Since it's inifinite, everything's in the middle ?

 

[stelleg151]

AFAIK not many cosmologists think that the universe is infinite. If the universe was infinite the big bang theory wouldnt really work. I think the most popular conclusion is one that is very difficult if not impossible to wrap your head around completely (I think einstein may have been able to). This is that space time folds over such that it isnt dissimilar to being on the surface of a sphere, so that if you go in one direction for long enough you will end up where you started.

All I can remember from my intro to astronomy course a couple years ago

 

[stelleg151]

Double post because my school internet is as reliable as 5 dollar power supply

 

[byosys]

Originally posted by: deftron
Since it's inifinite, everything's in the middle ?

IF it is infinite, then everything is in the middle based on the fact that every number is an equal distance away from infinity. However, I have also heard the theory that the Universe wraps around itself, but I don't know enough about it to comment either way about it.

 

[BassBomb]

why are we in the universe?

why arent we in the universe?

 

[imported_Seer]

4d Universe Theory (Mentioned earlier):

Imagine the universe as a balloon. We are a dot on it. Imagine other galaxies as other dots. As the balloon expands, dots closer to us don't move as quickly away, while the dots further away do. If you go around far enough, you should come back to where you were.

(This is when I stop to completely know what Im talking about) The faster you go, the more you realize the curvature of space time, and thus you are affected by time more (theory of relativity, right?). I mentioned earlier that its curved like a balloon...it's not exactly like that, as that would leave us with only 2 dimensions (x,y on a plane, albeit a curved one). However, it is a bit difficult to imagine a 4 dimensional balloon curvature! I think that space-time (that is, the 4d universe) is generally flat in the space directions, but curved in the time one. I really odnt know, though. Anyone, feel free to correct me.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: byosys

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: byosys
If you define the universe to be infinate (which is not necessarly true), then we (along with ever other point in the universe) are at the center of the universe based on the fact that every number is an equal distance away from infinity.

Regardless of the size of the universe, we are at the center of the observable universe. (Observable by us)

Not necessarly. If our view is blocked by something (say a near by star) then we can't see anything past that star. If we can see farther in the opposite direction than we can see in the direction of the star, the center of our observable universe is shifted slightly away from that nearby star. Of course, in the grand scheme of things that offset is probably negligable, but it exits.

So, while we're talking about the grand scheme of things and these negligible effects, then I'll toss in gravitational lensing so that we can see a little bit behind the start

 

[IEC]

Where aren't we in the universe?

Before we can answer your question, humanity will have to have colonized half the galaxy

 

[Mday]

we cannot tell where we are. it is impossible. from our point in the universe, we can see radially out a distance R of some billion light years. And as time moves, R increases. We cannot see beyond R or know of anything beyond R. If something exists beyond R, we wont know until time allows for R to increase.

So, if we cannot see all of the universe, we cannot know where we are relative to the entire universe.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: joanknn
If we look far enough into the universe, what we are looking at is essentially a time machine that help us see into the past, the early days when the universe was first created. This is so becuase light though fast still take a long time to travel to us. So some of the stuff we see is actually dated, what is really there, we probably wouldn't know. So while the red shift is suggesting that the universe is still expanding, how do we know for sure if a reversal is actually not taking place yet? Mind boggling really.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6955261/?GT1=7938

In Monthly highlights if you click on March 2006: Dark delights

you'll notice in one of the slide show images that technology was able to record "light" in the earliest days back to the Big Bang, whichever this may signify; to dinosaurs or the creation of the Universe, etc. Anyhow, that is a very interesting point, joaknn

 

[The Dome]

A plot point on a matrix (and no, I'm not talking about the movies : )

 

[Madwand1]

"Universe" is a funny word, esp. in conjunction with a definite article. But in a multiverse, the question loses meaning, and we're reduced to a visible "universe". I've always liked solipsism, but that's just me.

 

[ajf3]

Originally posted by: Seer
If you go around far enough, you should come back to where you were.

Just like in asteroids!

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: ajf3

Originally posted by: Seer
If you go around far enough, you should come back to where you were.

Just like in asteroids!

Except if you're in the center of a spherical universe. I dont think you'd ever get back to the center, if you continue in a straightline forever.