If you could build a telescope that can see light from 13-14 billion light years away, then you could see light from the early universe, no? Is it correct that you could point that telescope in any direction and pick up radiation from the early expansion of the universe?
2007-05-14 03:01:15 · 11 answers · asked by Christopher L 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It doesn't matter what direction you point the telescope in: the fossil radiation from the Big Bang comes from every direction. So the answer to the second part of your question is "yes".
We can build such telescopes and have done so, e.g. the COBE and WMAP satellites. The important thing to realize is that because of the expansion of the Universe the radiation has been redshifted into the microwave region of the spectrum; it is no longer detectable as visible light.
2007-05-14 03:06:26 · answer #1 · answered by Astronomer1980 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The light from the "big bang" is coming from everywhere. You could point your telescope in any direction were it was not blocked by something (like the sun, Earth, or the Milky Way), and "see" the light (except that is in in the far microwave spectrum). Calling it a "big bang" was Fred Hoyle's practical joke. The reality of the model is that at one time the universe was very very small, and completely empty and cold. Nothing was happening, so there was no time. Then the universe flashed/became a very hot, energy-filled place, everywhere, all at once (no, we don't know why or how). Most of the light from that initial energy is still running around.
2016-05-17 22:08:12 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would never be able to see the Big Bang, because there is a point in space beyond which galaxies are moving away fom us as fast as the speed of light. If they are moving away from us at the speed of light, their light will never reach you, or your telescope.
And then...the only "direction" space really follows is time. The only way to see the Big Bang would be to travel into the past.
I suppose it would be easier to decide exactly where in the universe the Big Bang occured if all galaxies were moving in the same direction, and away from the exact same point. But, all objects in space are moving away from one another...
yes, it is true that you can point your telescope in any direction and pick up the primordial radiation. That is the only real evidence we have of the Big Bang...that, and the fact that ALL of the universe was once very hot, and it cooled at the same rate.
2007-05-14 06:29:29 · answer #3 · answered by swirlgirl 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
'Up'.
The curved nature of space means that it dos not have a definable centre, and therefore if you observe radiation from a distance of about 14 billion light years in any direction, you will observe the origin of the universe. Of course it will be red-shifted well out of the visible spectrum.
2007-05-14 04:07:55 · answer #4 · answered by Ian I 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To do this, you would have to already have to have a powerful scope in space that was 14 billion light years away to send one now, this world will have been swallowed by the sun, then there would be no reason to see the big bang
2007-05-14 03:11:43 · answer #5 · answered by cones2210 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Space then was smaller and has expanded like a loaf of bread. Therefore the center, has expanded beyond it's original dementional constraints so in effect the center is not really a center anymore because space as we know it has changed it's shape and maybe it's laws.
2007-05-14 03:20:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Northeast towards Wiener Lebowski's house.
2007-05-14 03:04:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Orion.
2007-05-14 07:03:00 · answer #8 · answered by spir_i_tual 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Point it toward Washington DC. They are always screwing us.
2007-05-14 03:03:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Currently, no-one knows because no one knows where is the center of the universe.
2007-05-14 03:05:11 · answer #10 · answered by ragnaroklem 2 · 0⤊ 6⤋