[Robh (Rob)]

How often have I read that the universe is expanding and that there is no centre.
Every point is expanding away from every other point.
Sorry, but I just don't get it!

Let's assume the Big Bang was the origin of the Universe.
Everything is "blowing out" from where the Big Bang occurred.
The sum total of matter and energy is expanding in a shell which is itself getting thicker.
A bit like an expanding balloon (however the balloon's skin is actually thinning). An often used analogy but the balloon does have a centre!
The major part of the matter and energy will occur in any direction roughly tangential to the shell (we are somewhere in the shell).
Radially from the expansion point, the amount of matter and energy is only the thickness of the shell.
There should be two directions, outwards and inwards where the amount of matter and energy is minimal.
Looking in any direction tangentially to the shell, matter and energy should be maximum.

So here's my first idea ...
Is the thickness of the shell still within the cosmic event horizon?
If yes, then there should be a radial direction at which matter and energy should end.
This point will be closer than where matter and energy seems to end in any tangential direction at the cosmic event horizon.
If not, then we cannot see this difference.

My second idea ...
Tangentially to the shell in any direction, gravity should be strongest.
You would expect strings of galaxies to line up in directions tangential to the shell i.e. seemingly in a plane.
Does anyone know whether the filaments of galaxies in large structures like the Great Wall and the Sloan Great Wall appear to lie in the same plane?

We may still be able to check whether our Universe has a centre.

If you've ploughed through this, you deserve a medal!
Does our Universe have a centre?
Curious, Rob.