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9 answers

hypothetically, yes

2007-11-21 10:41:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

This is a very good question, and is subject to some controversy.
Most people, when thinking about the universe, have difficulty with two concepts:
- that the universe may be finite but unbounded (ie, it does not go on forever, but has no edge, either)
- that there is no 'centre' of the universe, but everywhere is equivalent. People confuse the 'big bang' as having started at a particular point, and everything has moved away from that point. In fact, everything expanded (and is expanding) away from everything else, so all points are equivalent. (Someone used the surface of an expanding balloon, as a two dimensional equivalent, where every point on the surfacde of the baloon is expanding away from every other point, and no point is the 'centre').

The question of whether distance is the same in every direction (ie, that space is isometric) is controversial, and depends on the ultimate 'shape' of space. Space is most likely isometric, but as far as I know, that hasn't been proven conclusively. We are talking in cosmological distances here, and any departure from isometry couldn't be neasured on a local or even astronomical scale.

2007-11-22 00:00:10 · answer #2 · answered by AndrewG 7 · 0 0

If you are asking: "Are we at the center of the universe?", I'd say the answer is no. If the universe was formed by an explosion, like the Big Bang, and everything is traveling away from the center of that explosion, than there is a place in the universe that is opposite our position with the point of origin in the middle. Anything that isn't opposite our position is closer. While we can see the same distance in every direction from our position, we can only see a finite distance. Currently our ability to see goes out to something in the neighborhood of 14 billion light years. Our solar system was formed a mere 4.6 billion years ago. Someday we will be able to see even farther and we may be able to actually see the beginning of our universe. When we are able to detect light at a greater distance in one direction than in another direction, we will then know our relative position within the universe. I doubt it is the center.

2007-11-21 19:20:02 · answer #3 · answered by yeochief2002 4 · 1 0

The real answer is, "we don't know". Calling the universe "infinite" is a bit of a non-sequiter. But, even in a finite universe, the answer to your question is probably "yes". With an expanding universe, the analogy is to a ball. Pick a point anywhere on the surface of the ball, anywhere at all. No matter what point you pick, the point furthest away from you will be the same distance.

2007-11-21 19:05:13 · answer #4 · answered by Publik 2 · 2 0

From the center of the earth, if you draw an imaginary line in any direction, you will be able to go millions of light years and still find stars. The universe has no end as far as we know; it is infinite. So the distance would be infinitely huge no matter which way you go.

2007-11-21 18:43:10 · answer #5 · answered by dave_rosko 3 · 0 0

since the universe is supposed to be without end then the answer can not be proven however distance 1s a measurement between two points and since this cannot be done then the answer would be no

2007-11-21 18:41:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

You can go forever in any direction. There is no end.

2007-11-21 19:10:48 · answer #7 · answered by Renaissance Kid 4 · 0 0

the answer is undefined 'cuz universe has no end unless proven.

2007-11-21 21:49:32 · answer #8 · answered by nomad A 1 · 0 0

yes, its infinate in every direction.

2007-11-21 18:43:39 · answer #9 · answered by ironcream 1 · 0 0

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