Is there a true 'centre of the universe' and am I it?

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-10-15 02:28pm

Is there a centre of the universe, or is the nature of the universe such that it can be considered infinite and therefore no centre exits? Or, being infinite, could every point be considered the centre?

What I'm trying to say is, could you describe some point as the centre of the universe in anything but metaphorical terms?

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-10-15 02:33pm

Center is always relative, in an infinte plane any point can be considered *Centeral

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-10-15 02:40pm

Wwhere the "this poll is biased and a general waste of time" option?

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-10-15 02:41pm

Added

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-10-15 03:03pm

I'm fairly certain I explained this in another thread... :)

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-10-15 03:10pm

Durandal wrote:I'm fairly certain I explained this in another thread...

What thread would that be?

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-10-15 03:14pm

http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic. ... &start=180

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-10-15 03:17pm

Mr Bean wrote:Center is always relative, in an infinte plane any point can be considered *Centeral

So the universe couild be considered infinite even though it's expanding? Or would it be finite given the known rate of expansion and generally accepted age? Or, even given the last two, would space-time not exist outside the boundry of our universe and therefore the universe could still be considered infinite.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-10-15 03:46pm

Let me put it this way

Infinte until proven guilty

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-10-15 03:58pm

Durandal wrote:http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic. ... &start=180

Ok, so my next thought is this. If you were the captain of a starship and your only mission was to find the centre of universe, where it all began, could you do it? I was thinking maybe you could do it based on the relative age of certain areas.

Think of it this way, as the universe expands the newer areas won't have time for stars to form. Older areas will have stars, older still would have dead stars. You start out in any point and move where the older space is. Once you get to a point where space is younger in all directions you should be at the centre. Sort of like using a compass to find the exact north pole. Once you get to a place where all directions are south you've found it.

Make sense? Or am I completely off base here.

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-10-15 03:58pm

IG-88E wrote:Wwhere the "this poll is biased and a general waste of time" option?

The poll is a joke, the question is serious.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-10-15 04:22pm

Ok, so my next thought is this. If you were the captain of a starship and your only mission was to find the centre of universe, where it all began, could you do it? I was thinking maybe you could do it based on the relative age of certain areas.

No. The original singularity had no spatial coordinates, as it took up all space.

Think of it this way, as the universe expands the newer areas won't have time for stars to form. Older areas will have stars, older still would have dead stars. You start out in any point and move where the older space is. Once you get to a point where space is younger in all directions you should be at the centre. Sort of like using a compass to find the exact north pole. Once you get to a place where all directions are south you've found it.

The problem is that time is completely relative. How do you measure how old space is? It's not like new space is being created; space can expand faster than c, and that's all it's doing: expanding. It's like trying to measure individual sections of rubber. They're all the same. Also, when you zoom out and look at the universe on large enough scales, it looks exactly the same everywhere you look. There are no "edges." Special relativity disallows the existence of a preferred frame of reference, which is what a universal center would be.

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-10-15 04:39pm

C.S.Strowbridge wrote:
IG-88E wrote:Wwhere the "this poll is biased and a general waste of time" option?
The poll is a joke, the question is serious.

I take everything seriously. Seriously!

Post by **NecronLord** » 2002-10-15 04:43pm

Of course there is, have you not seen my immense intellect, how can doubt that i am the creator center and supreme being of the universe?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-10-15 04:50pm

Well if Strowbridge was the center it would greatly ease the task of emplacing my universal implosion device. However that is not the case.

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-10-15 06:00pm

Think of it this way, as the universe expands the newer areas won't have time for stars to form. Older areas will have stars, older still would have dead stars. You start out in any point and move where the older space is. Once you get to a point where space is younger in all directions you should be at the centre. Sort of like using a compass to find the exact north pole. Once you get to a place where all directions are south you've found it.

The problem is that time is completely relative. How do you measure how old space is?[/quote]

By looking at the objects within that space. It takes a certain amount of time for a black hole to form, so if there's a black hole there that space had to exist for at least that long.

It's not like new space is being created; space can expand faster than c, and that's all it's doing: expanding. It's like trying to measure individual sections of rubber. They're all the same. Also, when you zoom out and look at the universe on large enough scales, it looks exactly the same everywhere you look. There are no "edges." Special relativity disallows the existence of a preferred frame of reference, which is what a universal center would be.

Hmmm. Interesting. If there's no preferred frame of reference there can always be non-fundemental reference points. I'm trying to find a way my cult is supposed to find the Court of Azathoth, which is at the centre of the Universe. And your not helping. Oh well.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-10-15 06:56pm

Sorry, but the Court of Azaroth simply can't exist.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2002-10-15 07:01pm

"you´re not the center of the universe, you´re just an asshole in space and time" - WIZO, Raum und Zeit

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-10-16 12:55am

Ok, who voted that I'm sexy, sexy man? Cause you need to be medicated.

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2002-10-16 09:11pm

C.S.Strowbridge wrote:Ok, who voted that I'm sexy, sexy man? Cause you need to be medicated.

"Strap her to the gurney, Nurse. And prescribe me some more vicadin!"

/cue porno music

Post by **Beowulf** » 2002-10-17 12:45am

Stop trying to inflate your own ego Strow.

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-10-17 01:08am

Beowulf wrote:Stop trying to inflate your own ego Strow.

I don't need to try and inflate my ego, it grows on it's own. I couldn't keep in check if I tried, and I don't.