"They show the earth to be the center of the portion of the universe that we can see- almost by definition since every thing is expanding away
from us. "

That's exactly right. The only way the Earth would not be the center is if we were to observe a boundary somewhere. If you sit inside of a sphere but can't see the edges, there is no way to find a geometrical center.

One of the other centers that Mike mentioned is kind of observable, center of velocity. The reason I say kind of is because you need to see the whole universe in order to find any kind of "absolute" center, but you can see local centers. For example, the velocity center in the regions of space surrounding the local group of galaxies is located somewhere in the Virgo cluster. Galaxies outside of this region, however, will be heading towards some other center.

Also, you can map the distribution of galaxies throughout the observable universe by knowing only relative distances rather than absolute distances. Current theories say that you can get relative distances from the cosmological redshift. Using this, we can map galaxies throughout time and space. We find that clusters of galaxies tend to be located at the intersections of gigantic filaments, forming a sort of cosmic web.

• Not - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 00:24 UTC
  • The pattern will show universe center - rayredbourne - November 19, 2002 - 01:24 UTC
    • Not really... - cosmotiger - November 19, 2002 - 03:43 UTC
      • The way it goes... - bruce - November 19, 2002 - 04:57 UTC
        • BTW-Mike... - bruce - November 19, 2002 - 04:58 UTC
          • Mike got an A in physics in 1977, A in Algebra, A in Geology - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 05:02 UTC
            • Mike is a liar... - bruce - November 19, 2002 - 05:05 UTC
              • bruce is mistaken about both his assertions - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 05:55 UTC
              • Ruquist is posing as bruce and is damned by God - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 05:56 UTC
                • Actually Mike.. - bruce - November 19, 2002 - 06:05 UTC
                  • BTW Mike... - bruce - November 19, 2002 - 06:08 UTC
                    • What a waste you are.... I deny you invented Brilliant Pebbles - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 06:22 UTC
                      • Actually Mike Pearson... - bruce - November 19, 2002 - 06:40 UTC
                        • If only you had been one of them, the good ones would return - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 06:42 UTC
                          • Mike Pearson is delusional... - bruce - November 19, 2002 - 06:50 UTC
                            • I am enjoying the responses - yaniru - November 19, 2002 - 13:55 UTC
                              • Greg Canavan invented Brilliant Pebbles - yaniru - November 19, 2002 - 19:14 UTC
                                • f.o.a.d.? - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 19:28 UTC
                            • Bruce is Ruquist - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 18:16 UTC
                            • Had I been in error, it would have sufficed for one to show how - quiet - November 20, 2002 - 04:41 UTC
                    • And technically, Fumunda Cheese is really a kind of Jam - quiet - November 20, 2002 - 05:07 UTC
                  • What do you care what other people think? - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 06:21 UTC
        • My understanding... - rayredbourne - November 20, 2002 - 10:05 UTC
        • Bruce... - rayredbourne - November 20, 2002 - 10:21 UTC
      • I has seen it. I dun seen the pixure! - quiet - November 19, 2002 - 04:59 UTC
      • A web? - rayredbourne - November 20, 2002 - 09:59 UTC
        • Galaxy distribution pages and images - quiet - November 20, 2002 - 19:52 UTC
        • More or less... - cosmotiger - November 20, 2002 - 21:22 UTC