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From: nelson@cvl.UUCP (Randal Nelson)
Newsgroups: sci.physics
Subject: Size of the Universe
Message-ID: <1733@cvl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Oct-86 13:57:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: cvl.1733
Posted: Tue Oct 14 13:57:17 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Oct-86 08:15:31 EDT
References: <5845@decwrl.DEC.COM> <1322@utastro.UUCP>
Organization: Center for Automation Research, Univ. of Md.
Lines: 21
Summary: Could the universe be smaller than we think it is?

From one of Ethan Vishniac's postings:

> The flatness problem makes everyone uncomfortable...

The mention of hyperspherical models made me wonder how we know that
the universe really is as extensive as the distance computed from
highly red-shifted objects suggests.
In particular, how do we know that the univers is not (relatively)
small with a topology that permits closed geodesics.
In this case, highly red-shifted light has just looped the loop
a couple of times, which would allow the entire universe to be in
communication.
This would have interesting consequences. For instance, certain
object would represent earlier stages of our own galaxy if we knew
where to look.
I have never heard this notion discussed.
Does anyone know what (if anything) eliminates such a model??
Please reply to the net.


Randal Nelson