Originally posted by AndyDane
I'm not sure, I think a popular theory was that it was expanding at the speed of light, but my memory is a little hazy on the subject.
Also, Hubble's law says that some objects are travelling away from us at a rate greater than that of the speed of light.
Skeet, it's possible because the theory of special relativity is talking about the 'spacial' movement of an object. Whereas if space itself is expanding an object is not actually moving although it's relative position with regards to other objects may be changing.
Objects that are fairly local to each other are held within each others gravitational fields and may be static in relation to each other or even getting closed together, such as the Milky Way and Andromeda. But the distance between each group of local galaxies will be expanding over time.
Pete: aren't there several theories as to how the universe is shaped? And depending on which you follow the opinion of it being finite/infinite changes? (the theory of the universe being flat with infinite radius of curvature?)
I've actually applied for some course material from the Open University now, going to do a physics course, something I wish I'd done when I went to uni. Instead of getting drunk, dropping out and working for an insurance company, lol
