Because, for bodies with a rest mass, c is an endlessly approachable but never attainable limit and because a moving body contracts in the direction of its motion relative to a stationary observer, a finite expanding universe could have an infinity of galaxies between any observer and its receding unattainable rim. In that case, even with the antithanatic, no spaceman would be able to visit every galaxy.
On the other hand, if the original exploding monobloc had finite mass and volume, then it cannot have generated an infinity of galaxies?
Lacking knowledge of physics, I am unable to comment further. It is unfortunate that Poul Anderson did not write more about the fictional universe of World Without Stars.
1 comment:
If my understanding of cosmology is correct:
While an object cannot move through space faster than light, the space between distant galaxies can expand fast enough that that the effective speed of recession is greater than c & galaxies go across an 'event horizon' from each others POV.
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