In the sense that the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is visible from every point in space. No matter where you are you can determine your position relative to the CMB, making it a common reference point for the entire universe.
I understand that it is visible from all of space, but doesn’t it look the same from all points in space? Wouldn’t everyone looking at it simply conclude “I am at the center of the CMB”? How would you use it to specify a certain point?
Why cosmic microwave background radiation? Is that any less arbitrary than e.g. the sun?
deleted by creator
Wouldn’t the conversations go like this?
Me: I’m about 2/3rds out the longest arm of my galaxy
Alien: OK
vs
Me: I’m at the place where the CMBR is evenly redshifted in all directions.
Alien: Huh, me too?
deleted by creator
Well, it’s the only thing we know of that can be used in the whole universe.
Use it how? I’ve never heard about this, and I can’t seem to find anything about it by searching
In the sense that the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is visible from every point in space. No matter where you are you can determine your position relative to the CMB, making it a common reference point for the entire universe.
I understand that it is visible from all of space, but doesn’t it look the same from all points in space? Wouldn’t everyone looking at it simply conclude “I am at the center of the CMB”? How would you use it to specify a certain point?