The model of an expanding universe raises many unanswered questions that can be explained via an alternate physical model, presented herein. A proposed steady state model explains redshifts of signals, Olbers' Paradox, the "horizon problem", and why distant galaxies appear smaller while distant Type la supernovae are fainter than expected. Also, the nature and origin of cosmic background radiation are explained, as well as why the presently observable universe appears 13 to 15 billion years old. The proposed model posits that the distance to a glowing object can be calculated from its redshift, which can also determine the reduction in a signal's radiation intensity in space due to attenuation and spherical expansion. The theory was applied to calculate maximum magnitudes of distant type la supernovae; results were comported with experimental data better than those predicted by an expanding universe model, without invoking the dark energy concept. The theory also confirms that the peak of the observed radiation intensity for the galactic density of our universe should occur at a wavelength of about 1 mm and establishes the value of average radiation intensity in our steady state universe.