# Reference frames and speed of light

If the speed of light is a constant, and the universe is expanding, wouldn't shining a light in the direction of the center of the universe have a different color (frequency and wave length) than shining it away from the center of the universe?

If not, if the speed of light is constant relative to the source (aka flashlight) wouldn't the light be a different color for someone on the other side of the center of the universe as compared to someone further away from the center than we are?

Or have I completely forgotten some basic concept about optics, Doppler effect, and light waves?

• What center of the universe? – pfnuesel May 6 '14 at 17:34
• @MishaP You are thinking in terms of proper distance. In those terms then yes, as the light is redshifted due to expansion, it will appear to C as if it is travelling away faster than the speed of light. But this is not actually a velocity faster than light. The photons are still moving through space at speed $c$. It's just that the space between them is growing as well, so the proper distance between C and the beam of light is increasing faster than the speed of light. – Jim May 7 '14 at 13:17