Astroquizzical: How do we know the universe is expanding evenly? (Synopsis) [Starts With A Bang]


When it comes to the Universe, physicists say things like: it originated in a Big Bang, it’s isotropic (or the same in all directions), and it’s homogeneous (the same everywhere), save for the effects of cosmic evolution. In every direction we look, we see galaxies expanding away from us, with the expansion rate increasing the farther away we look.

Image credit: NASA / WMAP science team, via http://ift.tt/1xhgeCV.

Image credit: NASA / WMAP science team, via http://ift.tt/1xhgeCV.

But an expansion inherent to the fabric of space itself isn’t the only explanation; it’s conceivable that we see what we see because everything else in the Universe is speeding away from us, and that spacetime itself is static. But what does the Universe itself have to say about that?

Image credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).

Image credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).

Jillian Scudder takes this on for this week’s Astroquizzical!



from ScienceBlogs http://ift.tt/1Q4dcMV

When it comes to the Universe, physicists say things like: it originated in a Big Bang, it’s isotropic (or the same in all directions), and it’s homogeneous (the same everywhere), save for the effects of cosmic evolution. In every direction we look, we see galaxies expanding away from us, with the expansion rate increasing the farther away we look.

Image credit: NASA / WMAP science team, via http://ift.tt/1xhgeCV.

Image credit: NASA / WMAP science team, via http://ift.tt/1xhgeCV.

But an expansion inherent to the fabric of space itself isn’t the only explanation; it’s conceivable that we see what we see because everything else in the Universe is speeding away from us, and that spacetime itself is static. But what does the Universe itself have to say about that?

Image credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).

Image credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).

Jillian Scudder takes this on for this week’s Astroquizzical!



from ScienceBlogs http://ift.tt/1Q4dcMV

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