Why are constellations static when we are not the center of the universe?

Question

The constellations in the night sky today are in the same shapes and locations that they were several thousand years ago. Scientists say that our solar system is not at the center of the universe. If the universe is constantly expanding, and things are constantly moving away from the "center" than why do the constellations retain the same shapes and why do the stars remain the same distance from each other from the perspective of Earth? (by center i mean where the big bang occured, because if the universe is infinite then everywhere is the "center" but that's besides the point)

Answer 1

Your basic premise is wrong. The stars are NOT in the same places they were thousand of years ago, and we know this from the records of particularly mathematically inclined ancient societies.

For example, there are the Mayans. They were very interested in astronomy and seem to have even tied their theology heavily into it as well. They decided that they place where souls went after death was the lone stationary spot in the sky around which everything else turned. Right now, we have a star there. But back then, it was a region that was completely black. There are some who even argue that this is the reason why they decided that the end of the world occurs in 2012 - that will be the date when a black line in the Milky Way lines up with that unmoving central spot.

The Egyptians, too, may have built their structures to correspond with stellar features. Some suggest that the physical placement of the three great pyramids were meant to mirror the placement of certain stars... and there is a terrific correlation between the size of the pyramids and their placement with the brightness and positions of three stars two thousand years ago. Those stars, however, have since changed positions so they no longer resemble that original structure.

And even if our ideas about what these ancient civilizations saw and thought about the sky are way off, the very small movements observed by modern astronomers might be projected in models quite a distance in either direction. Of course some stars move more than others, and some things that people THINK are stars are actually whole galaxies and the like, which compared to much more local phenomenon aren't going to move much comparatively at all...

You also seem to be having a mis-perception about how expansion might be occurring. If EVERYTHING moved apart at EXACTLY the same rate, then of course all the relative positions are going to be identical. Take a look at a map... the only way you can tell how far things are apart is by looking at the key in the corner. It wouldn't change the map a bit if everything moved closer or further at the same rate. Astronomically, we'd only notice completely uniform expansion or contraction from secondary effects - the changing of light frequencies or alterations of relationships between objects established by other forces such as gravity.

Answer 2

This question should be in the astronomy section. It has to do with the distance between us and the stars that make up those constellations. The distances are SO vast, that even though the planets, stars and galaxies are in constant motion there is no discernable difference from our viewpoint over time. That's the short answer. Study astronomy a bit and you'll understand it in greater detail.

Answer 3

nicely i'm no longer a great bang denier, yet relativity is maximum by utilizing no ability incorrect. Even the little GPS device on your automobile does no longer artwork good if engineers did no longer account for the undeniable fact that factor moved at a various fee to satellites than it does to you on your automobile. without relativity, GPS might pass out of wack for each guy or woman.

Answer 4

They aren't static. They are changing. It's just that the distances are so vast that they change that you'd be able to see in just one thousand years is minute. It's small, but it does exist. If you came back in one billion years, then you'd certainly notice some interesting differences.

Answer 5

We are the center of our perspective.