From: greystone@NET1Plus.com   
      
   Roger wrote:   
      
   > I was hoping someone could help me with the following question. I am trying   
   > to understand something of the size of the universe, and I came accross a   
   > quote that said "the universe is expanding in all directions, and that the   
   > 'Cosmic Microwave Background' (the remaining heat from the Big Bang, is   
   > found at a distance of 15 billion light years from us in all directions."   
   >   
   > Tow questions result from this:   
   > - does this not suggest the universe is ball-shaped, and   
   > - that the earth is pretty much at the centre of the universe, near where   
   > the Big Bang occurred?   
   >   
   > Any input you can give me (in laymen's terms, please) would be welcome!   
   >   
   > Rogier   
      
      
     imagine the surface of an inflating balloon.   
     there are a number of dots inked on it.  these   
     dots are attached and not part of the expanding   
     rubber surface, so they do not grow in size as   
     the balloon inflates.  one of these dots is where   
     we are.  from our vantage point it looks like all   
     the dots are receding from us.  the dots further   
     away are receding faster because there is more   
     expanding balloon between us and them.   
      
     in the rubber space between the dots there is a   
     residual glow from the big bang, your cosmic   
     background.  the bang corresponds to when the   
     balloon was empty.  the cosmic background reveals   
     when the balloon was empty.   
      
     notice that our dot is not at the center of the   
     balloon's surface, nor is any other dot.  infact,   
     also notice, although i did not specify it, that   
     the balloon is not necessarily spherical.  it might   
     be close to exact to satisfy certain cosmological   
     theories.  now consider that the balloon's surface   
     is a two-dimensional surface.   
      
     in the real universe, the corresponding surface   
     manifests itself, as far as we can be practical about   
     it, as a 3-dimensional surface in a higher order   
     setting.  we are as hampered in comprehending the   
     actual picture as 2-d creatures on the balloon would   
     be trying to imagine the center of the balloon or   
     being "inside" or "outside" of the balloon.   
      
      
   - nate   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)