An empirical approach to cosmology

Abstract

A two-component model of the universe is proposed, based on the observations of discrete extragalactic sources and the microwave background radiation. The large scale dynamics of the universe is determined by the radiation component and it leads to a characteristic size of the universe ~6×10⁵ Mpc and an age ~10¹² yr. The second component, that of matter, occurs in discrete sources which group together in super-superclusters of characteristic size ~6×10³ Mpc and age ~10¹⁰ yr. It is suggested that our Galaxy belongs to one of these super-superclusters and that observations of discrete sources are confined to this unit. A reasonable agreement with the cosmological tests is obtained on the assumption that the geometry within a typical super-supercluster is Euclidean and that the redshifts of galaxies arise from Doppler effect due to motions originating in a local explosion which gave birth to the super-supercluster. Further observational checks on this model are proposed.