# Do the distances and velocities observed from galaxies other than Milky way really show that every point in the universe is the center?

Hubble's observation from redshift shows a pattern that the speed of the galaxies is proportional to their distance, by using those informations we can map the position of the galaxies.

But these observations were made just from Earth. So what I am asking is, do the observed distances between other galaxies other than Milky way (ie. distances between galaxyA , galaxyB and galaxyC) show that their velocities also follow Hubble’s pattern?

Are we certain that if we live in another galaxy, we will see other galaxies moving away from us following Hubble’s pattern? Or is it an assumption made just from observations on Earth that every point in the universe is the center?

So that I can rule out the idea that we see other galaxies moving away from us in that pattern because Milky Way is near to the center of the universe.

the data showing the Hubble expansion, where the farther from us a galaxy is the faster it is receding from us, can be used to demonstrate that no matter where you make that observation, you will always see the same thing going on. To avoid math, try the following experiment: take a wide rubber band and make a series of closely but evenly-spaced dots on it with a ball point pen. now stretch the rubber band so the points move apart from each other. as you do this, imagine yourself situated at one dot or another on the band and ask yourself what you would see from that vantage point. No matter which dot you pick, you will always experience the dots on either side of you moving away from you.

• Sorry but this is a visual aid to understand the Hubble law. You have to assume that the law is found no matter where you are. This goes back to the OP question Jan 3, 2018 at 22:28
• no, it also demonstrates the absence of position-dependence of the observed expansion. this means that we do not need to travel to a distant galaxy and see if the expansion there is isotropic too; it is a consequence of geometry. Jan 3, 2018 at 22:40
• In a homogeneous isotropic universe it is so. An universe in which there is indeed no such a dependency. In this universe than the Hubble law is surely seen by any observer. Jan 3, 2018 at 22:43
• I agree with niels. I believe that he has brought up an experiment that I never thought of. Jan 4, 2018 at 13:41
• Otherwise stated with your example a center is not ruled out. I am fine with assuming we are not at the center. To avoid unnecessary hunting the naive or pseudo science follower who I am not :) Jan 4, 2018 at 14:41

Of course it would be quite difficult (maybe impossible) to gather enough evidence to prove the former conjecture (isotropic and homogeneous expansion of space) over the latter (radial expansion of space centered on the milky way). The latter seems to be a much bolder claim than the former, though. The assumption at work is mainly a statistical one- if the expansion of space is centered on one local area, and the universe is presumably infinite (at least inconceivably large), then it is overwhelmingly unlikely that life, and specifically you, would arise in that local area.

So, we find ourselves in a universe where all galaxies are receding from us. Two possible conclusions are those stated above. One of them (that we are at the center of the universe) is overwhelmingly unlikely, so there is hardly any reason not to discard it.

Perhaps more (or less) compelling is the argument from relativity. Assuming that the expansion is centered anywhere at all breaks isotropy and homogeneity (conveniences that maybe we can do without) and more generally the principle of relativity (which we really cannot do without). That is, that the laws of physics have the same form in all admissible frames of reference. Without the principle of relativity, GR completely breaks, as does $\Lambda$CDM or almost any similar cosmologies. Now, it's fine for those things to break, as long as you have an alternative that describes nature equally as well or better. And people have tried that for a long time. But, no dice. The assumption of relativity has never once been broken, and GR has withstood impressive foes.

Short answer: Us being located at the center of the universe is pretty unlikely. More importantly, our current assumptions about the way the universe works, which so far have proven to be robust, suggest a uniform expansion.

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– rob
Jan 3, 2018 at 23:17

The former is true. The universe isn't expanding from a point, but rather it's expanding uniformly, and every observer sees every other observer as receding. As a result there is no "center of the universe". See this page. I quote: "In 1929 Edwin Hubble announced that he had measured the speed of galaxies at different distances from us, and had discovered that the farther they were, the faster they were receding. This might suggest that we are at the centre of the expanding universe, but in fact if the universe is expanding uniformly according to Hubble's law, then it will appear to do so from any vantage point" (emphasis mine). For more details, see the rest of the discussion on the page.

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– rob
Jan 3, 2018 at 23:17

This is what observations tell us:

The galaxies do not change size because the gravitational attraction holding them together is much stronger than the expansion due to the "big bang etc"

To fit the expansion and many other observations, the current standard model of cosmology is the Big Bang model. The word "model" means we have found a mathematical representation which, with the fewest possible postulates( equivalent to axioms in mathematics) describes within errors a large number of observations.

History of the universe

In this plot, the balloon surface is an analogue of a transverse slice of the history, at a given time.

The Big Bang model has been evolving through the years, but the basic ingredients of special and general relativity are a backbone in the postulates, which is not changing.

The first naive model assumed that all matter/energy in the universe was at a singularity at the origin at (0,0,0,t=0), a four vector assigned to the point. New observations and development of theories, plus the necessity of consistency of gravitation with quantum mechanics, have modified this original "point" to a fuzzy quantum mechanical region, but still , all matter in the universe started from that region and is distancing itself as time goes on.

This is a model which fits observations and data, it is predictive, and the best we have up to now. It is at the frontier of research, but the rough lines will not change, because General Relativity is well validated, and also special relativity, i.e. the four dimensional form of space time will stay as is.

The model would not fit the data and observations ,if the center of the universe were only where we are. From gravitational lensing to spectroscopy from distanced sources to the cosmic microwave background radiation (why would it be uniform all through the skies if it is traveling away from us? there should be directionality) the current model fits data and observations .

• Anna as you remind me I an ignorant but these stories are well known too me. One point worth answer is why an expanding universe from a center should not be roughly homogeneous when see from the center. To refer to your sentence in bracket one can ask why not? Which direction? All infinite radi will work. The major point is that I am totally fine with standard model. Discussion is something else. I just ask for a strict reference to an observational fact that has no place in a spherical expansion of a universe.. I will perhaps make a question with a nice intro to avoid misunderstanding Jan 4, 2018 at 14:33
• The answer is that a spherical expansion of the universe without the four dimensional general relativity rules does not fit the data. The sphere is a four sphere and the hypothesis fits the data/observations. A three sphere does not. The CMB would be differen for example, as it would be running away to infinity , not staying around to create the 3K black body radiation. Jan 4, 2018 at 15:44
• Anna even in that super super unlikely universe we won't scope to infinity but to a range dictated by its age. The CMB would be that shifted to 2.7....K due to expansion. I see it should be coarser probably as the emitters will be scattered on that surface. Will depend on depth probably but it would be probably less homogeneous than observed. This might be the answer seeked.... Jan 4, 2018 at 16:00
• But if we were the center of the universe where an expansion started, the radiation would be long gone since we are alive and no radiation is happening now. Radiation leaves in straight lines to infinity, or might back scatter so it could be measured by us, but it would be completely different patterns and energies. A specific model would be needed for when the expansion started and the energy dispersed and the greation of the gravitational bodies observed in the celestial sphere now. It will not fit. Jan 4, 2018 at 16:23
• Not that raduation. But one emitted by bodies there . What I agree is that being them spread on a surface that hypothetical backgr will be probably coarser and especially a crust with depth (ie different T ) It should also do not fit so precisely to a black body. Hope I gave you the picture I had in mind ( not that I believe! ) Jan 4, 2018 at 18:23

Basically, yes. However, when calculating what would be seen from the vantage point of other galaxies, relativity has to be taken into account. So if the distance from Galaxy A to Galaxy B is, as calculated from the earth's frame of reference, x times the distance from Galaxy A to Galaxy C as calculated from earth, it does not follow that the velocity of Galaxy B calculated from Galaxy A is x times the velocity of Galaxy C calculated from Galaxy A. Also, the Hubble constant is constant in space (that is, when we look at the ratio of relative velocity to speed, the number is generally the same wherever we look in the universe), but not actually constant in time. Since we are seeing galaxies as they were in the past, the Hubble constant that those galaxies see is not going to be the same as ours.

• “So if the distance from Galaxy A to Galaxy B is, as calculated from the earth's frame of reference, x times the distance from Galaxy A to Galaxy B as calculated from earth” In the last sentence, did you intend to write Galaxy A and Galaxy C? Jan 5, 2018 at 3:08
• I’m sorry but I still don’t understand the part that why a x times the distance doesn’t mean x times the velocity. Thanks. Jan 12, 2018 at 14:02
• @parker, Yeah, I think I put that wrong. Jan 12, 2018 at 15:50