Comments on: Where is the center of the Universe? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:22:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Ralph http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-188937 Ralph Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:49:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-188937 If, in fact, the universe is expanding simultaneously in EVERY direction, how then or why then do we see Galaxies occasionally intersecting with each other? If, in fact, the universe is expanding simultaneously in EVERY direction, how then or why then do we see Galaxies occasionally intersecting with each other?

]]> By: Valjoker http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-186082 Valjoker Mon, 25 May 2009 22:12:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-186082 What if the center of the balloon was to to be imagined as the beginning of time. With the edge of the balloon (space) traveling uniformly from the center (beginning of time). So everything (space) is traveling outwards and away from that central point (time). So the universe expands in proportion to the amount of time that passes. Then one could argue that the big bang wasnt an explosion of space but an explosion of time and that time had the power to move space. What if the center of the balloon was to to be imagined as the beginning of time. With the edge of the balloon (space) traveling uniformly from the center (beginning of time). So everything (space) is traveling outwards and away from that central point (time). So the universe expands in proportion to the amount of time that passes.

Then one could argue that the big bang wasnt an explosion of space but an explosion of time and that time had the power to move space.

]]> By: Jocko http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-180969 Jocko Tue, 05 May 2009 22:28:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-180969 Here is what I don't get about the balloon analogy. If you were a 2 dimensional dot on the surface of the balloon, you wouldn't be able to see any other dots on it (since your visual field would be a tangent). So, to see another dot, you would need to be able to peer through the balloon's interior. Also, in the balloon analogy, wouldn't dots further away from you move away the fastest as the balloon is inflated? Here is what I don’t get about the balloon analogy. If you were a 2 dimensional dot on the surface of the balloon, you wouldn’t be able to see any other dots on it (since your visual field would be a tangent). So, to see another dot, you would need to be able to peer through the balloon’s interior.

Also, in the balloon analogy, wouldn’t dots further away from you move away the fastest as the balloon is inflated?

]]> By: Mike Jones http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-155668 Mike Jones Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:15:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-155668 The balloon analogy is a bad one also as the balloon definitely starts off from a central point even on the surface no matter where you choose to start. The Universe must have a center because it is finite. It is finite because if it were infinite we would never arrive at this moment. There would have to be infinite time before we could have this disucssion. Even uniform expansion everywhere had to start at a single location or it is causally impossible to explain cosmology. The balloon analogy is a bad one also as the balloon definitely starts off from a central point even on the surface no matter where you choose to start.

The Universe must have a center because it is finite. It is finite because if it were infinite we would never arrive at this moment. There would have to be infinite time before we could have this disucssion. Even uniform expansion everywhere had to start at a single location or it is causally impossible to explain cosmology.

]]> By: Mike Russell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-154882 Mike Russell Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:52:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-154882 If,at some time about 14,000,000,000 years ago, there "was"something called space devoid of anything but an assortment of the elemental gases that had somehow coelecesed into the size of a pinhead and then exploded via the big bang,then there must be a Center to the universe. It has to be out there. Should human beings survive long enough there may be an answer to this. If,at some time about 14,000,000,000 years ago, there “was”something called space devoid of anything but an assortment of the elemental gases that had somehow coelecesed into the size of a pinhead and then exploded via the big bang,then there must be a Center to the universe. It has to be out there.
Should human beings survive long enough there may be an answer to this.

]]> By: Mike http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-154139 Mike Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:38:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-154139 The Laws of physic's says there is a center,the only laws that cannot be changed,they never have been changed,Humans have to learn to use them to DEAL with the universe,cause you cannot change the universe because of the laws of physics,but you can Deal with it.Everything that humans have built,could have been here on day one!because it was always here! so what stops the progess,the thought thats there is some unknown spirit world slows things down,distractions that do not really matter. The Laws of physic’s says there is a center,the only laws that cannot be changed,they never have been changed,Humans have to learn to use them to DEAL with the universe,cause you cannot change the universe because of the laws of physics,but you can Deal with it.Everything that humans have built,could have been here on day one!because it was always here! so what stops the progess,the thought thats there is some unknown spirit world slows things down,distractions that do not really matter.

]]> By: Greg http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-148907 Greg Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:51:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/02/where-is-the-center-of-the-universe/#comment-148907 The center of the universe simply does not exist. The center of the universe simply does not exist.

]]>