2007-06-01 18:04:27 · 12 answers · asked by goring 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
This is sort of a "trick question" so it gets sort of a "trick answer". The universe is generally thought to be expanding since its birth in the "Big Bang", about 14 billion years ago.
If there is enough mass in the universe, it will be be something like a sphere in many dimensions. If you think about an ant walking on a regular sphere, such as a basketball, it could walk forever without reaching an edge, even though the surface of that ball is not infinitely large. This condition is said to be "finite but unbounded". If there is not enough mass in the universe, it may form an open shape in many dimensions, something like a saddle in our normal space.
In each case, since the light that the Hubble Space Telescope sees travels at a finite speed, there is a point beyond which not enough time has yet passed for that light to reach it. The universe would just look black beyond that distant point.
For further information on this wonderful question of yours, try looking up "Olber's Paradox" on the web , a logical puzzle that helps answer it. (Use Google o some other search engine).
2007-06-02 10:50:15 · answer #1 · answered by Gary B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Hubble "HST" can see approx 13 billion light years away which can be considered the edge of our local universe, but it still can be a matter of opinion, whether the universe is open or closed.
2007-06-02 01:17:34 · answer #2 · answered by SnottyG. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can see about 18 billion light years out but more light arrives every day so the edge of the known universe has not been seen yet.
2007-06-02 01:07:03 · answer #3 · answered by jxt299 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Edge of the visible universe. There are parts that are so far away because of expansion the light hasn't reached us yet.
2007-06-02 16:06:05 · answer #4 · answered by kwilfort 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, no one knows if there even is an edge to the universe.
2007-06-02 01:06:57 · answer #5 · answered by Brian M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because the universe has no edge.
2007-06-02 17:31:51 · answer #6 · answered by . 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Universe is infinite, and it makes one feel really small to think of it that way
2007-06-02 04:49:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the james west space telescope might be able to.It's hubble's successor and won't be launched until 2013.
2007-06-02 01:14:35 · answer #8 · answered by one_man_gang2010 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who knows
2007-06-02 09:27:03 · answer #9 · answered by chase 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no... the universe keeps expanding, plus, it would have to be like a bajillion times stronger to see that far
2007-06-02 01:07:11 · answer #10 · answered by Goat 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋