- #31
OSalcido
- 66
- 0
if everything is receding from everything... how is it that our galaxy will eventually collide with the andromeda galaxy?
Could We See the Edge of the Universe?
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the concept of the edge of the universe, the implications of the universe's expansion, and the nature of the Big Bang. Participants explore theoretical aspects of cosmology, including the visibility of distant objects, the expansion of space, and the interpretation of redshift data.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
- Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that due to the finite speed of light and the universe's age, there are regions from which light has not yet reached us, leading to the concept of a 'particle horizon.'
- There is a discussion about whether studying the movement of galaxies could reveal the point of the Big Bang, with some arguing that there is no center to the universe's expansion.
- One participant posits that if galaxies are moving away from us at different speeds, it might be possible to trace their paths back to a common origin, while others counter that this interpretation misunderstands the nature of cosmic expansion.
- Some participants explain that the expansion of the universe can be likened to a loaf of rising bread, where every point moves away from every other point, emphasizing the lack of a central point in the expansion.
- There are claims that the term "Big Bang" was originally coined to discredit the theory and that it does not imply an explosion in a traditional sense.
- Concerns are raised about the implications of galaxies like Andromeda potentially colliding with the Milky Way, questioning how this fits into the overall understanding of universal expansion.
- One participant introduces the analogy of a balloon to explain the expansion of the universe, noting that while the surface expands, there is no center to this expansion.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express multiple competing views regarding the nature of the universe's expansion, the concept of a center, and the implications of redshift measurements. The discussion remains unresolved with no consensus on several key points.
Contextual Notes
The discussion includes various assumptions about cosmological models and the interpretation of observational data, which are not fully explored or agreed upon by participants.
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