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A distant galaxy is observed by an Earth observer. The observer considers themself to be stationary and the galaxy to be moving away relative to the observer.

The value of the redshift of the galaxy can be used to determine its distance (using the equation $d= zc/H$). When the light is received on Earth, the galaxy is actually further away than calculated from the redshift, as the galaxy has continued to move away from the Earth while the light that it emitted was travelling to Earth. The calculated distance is less than the actual distance.

However, what if we were to consider the distant galaxy to be stationary, and the Earth observer to be moving away from it? In this way of thinking, would it not be the case that the distance as determined from the redshift could be considered to be the true distance of the galaxy now?

Can it be the case that the initial response to the question “what is the actual distance to that galaxy now” would be “relative to us or relative to the galaxy”?

A distant galaxy is observed by an Earth observer. The observer considers themself to be stationary and the galaxy to be moving away relative to the observer.

The value of the redshift of the galaxy can be used to determine its distance (using the equation $d= zc/H$). When the light is received on Earth, the galaxy is actually further away than calculated from the redshift, as the galaxy has continued to move away from the Earth while the light that it emitted was travelling to Earth. The calculated distance is less than the actual distance.

However, what if we were to consider the distant galaxy to be stationary, and the Earth observer to be moving away from it? In this way of thinking, would it not be the case that the distance as determined from the redshift could be considered to be the true distance of the galaxy now?

Can it be the case that the initial response to the question “what is the actual distance to that galaxy now” would be “relative to us or relative to the galaxy”?

EDIT: By “true” distance, I mean the actual distance right now, that is, the total number of units of length between the observer on Earth and the galaxy being observed today, in the sense that Mars is right now x units of length from Earth as I write these words.

A distant galaxy is observed by an Earth observer. The observer considers themself to be stationary and the galaxy to be moving away relative to the observer.

The value of the redshift of the galaxy can be used to determine its distance (using the equation d= zc/H). When the light is received on Earth, the galaxy is actually further away than calculated from the redshift, as the galaxy has continued to move away from the Earth while the light that it emitted was travelling to Earth. The calculated distance is less than the actual distance.

However, what if we were to consider the distant galaxy to be stationary, and the Earth observer to be moving away from it? In this way of thinking, would it not be the case that the distance as determined from the redshift could be considered to be the true distance of the galaxy now?

Can it be the case that the initial response to the question “what is the actual distance to that galaxy now” would be “relative to us or relative to the galaxy”?

A distant galaxy is observed by an Earth observer. The observer considers themself to be stationary and the galaxy to be moving away relative to the observer.

The value of the redshift of the galaxy can be used to determine its distance (using the equation $d= zc/H$). When the light is received on Earth, the galaxy is actually further away than calculated from the redshift, as the galaxy has continued to move away from the Earth while the light that it emitted was travelling to Earth. The calculated distance is less than the actual distance.

However, what if we were to consider the distant galaxy to be stationary, and the Earth observer to be moving away from it? In this way of thinking, would it not be the case that the distance as determined from the redshift could be considered to be the true distance of the galaxy now?

Can it be the case that the initial response to the question “what is the actual distance to that galaxy now” would be “relative to us or relative to the galaxy”?

A distant galaxy is observed by an Earth observer. The observer considers themself to be stationary and the galaxy to be moving away relative to the observer.

The value of the redshift of the galaxy can be used to determine its distance. When the light is received on Earth, the galaxy is actually further away than calculated from the redshift, as the galaxy has continued to move away from the Earth while the light that it emitted was travelling to Earth. The calculated distance is less than the actual distance.

However, what if we were to consider the distant galaxy to be stationary, and the Earth observer to be moving away from it? In this way of thinking, would it not be the case that the distance as determined from the redshift could be considered to be the true distance of the galaxy now?

Can it be the case that the initial response to the question “what is the actual distance to that galaxy now” would be “relative to us or relative to the galaxy”?

A distant galaxy is observed by an Earth observer. The observer considers themself to be stationary and the galaxy to be moving away relative to the observer.

The value of the redshift of the galaxy can be used to determine its distance (using the equation d= zc/H). When the light is received on Earth, the galaxy is actually further away than calculated from the redshift, as the galaxy has continued to move away from the Earth while the light that it emitted was travelling to Earth. The calculated distance is less than the actual distance.

However, what if we were to consider the distant galaxy to be stationary, and the Earth observer to be moving away from it? In this way of thinking, would it not be the case that the distance as determined from the redshift could be considered to be the true distance of the galaxy now?

Can it be the case that the initial response to the question “what is the actual distance to that galaxy now” would be “relative to us or relative to the galaxy”?