Posted: Oct 06, 2011 12:55 pm
I explained it that way in an earlier post so was wondering if my understanding was correct. Good to see that it is! Makes for less editing of previous posts
I hadn't noticed that! It looks like we agree which is reassuring. Of course we could both be wrong but im sure if we are someone will point it out pretty soon.
This is my problem. I don't think there is any imagery available to properly illuminate what it actually means to say the universe to be expanding.
I know. This is the issue with lots of physics. There are plenty of analogies that sort of describe the situation but at the same time are misleading if examined in any detail. Our minds evolved to survive on this planet with little need in the past to contemplate such ideas as cosmology. I think one of the greatest challenges for anyone researching such things is to discard the preconceptions and imagery that has been accumulated over the years of experience of the more local world.
Yes what we often call the universe is just the bit that we see but its likely that the whole lot is following the same general pattern.