Where does our universe end?

Answer 1

Nobody really knows the answer to this, but I took a class that talked about the different models of the universe.

I remember that one of the more accepted models is the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson one. It describes a "homogenous (same throughout), isotropic (uniform over large distances), and expanding universe."

There's a lot of mathematics and physics crap behind where they come up with the numbers, but basically there's a term called the Cosmological Constant that accelerates the expansion of the universe. So to answer your question - the universe doesn't end, it just keeps expanding forever.

Answer 2

we will one day know the full extent of matter in the universe...

but the thing is, the universe doesn't end with matter... there is a lot of matter-less energy out there too…

we need to think beyond our boxy existence when conceiving universe...

“end” is a word that has no meaning to the world of energy… and energy is all we know of the universe… it is the thing we can relate to, examine, and ultimately quantify…

as far as the size of it is concerned… it is big… real big… not only if you’re our size, it’s big to suns, solar systems and even galaxies too… anything that makes a galaxy look small, is on a scale of bigness that makes the word big look too small for the job of defining it…

still, probes aside… there is a way of defining the universe that can slap borders and limits on the definition of things… it’s called “the known”… as far as the “the known” universe is concerned it always has two ends… the big end and the small end… and the more we delve into the vastness of the micro as well as the macro universes, the more we expand our understanding of “end”…

at some point we will be able to say “this is the end”
beautiful friend, the end
this is the end
my only friend, the end
of all elaborate plans, the end
of everything that stands, the end

until then, I’ll be getting lost in a roman wilderness of pain

Answer 3

That is actually almost a philosophical question. It would be very difficult to answer that question until we have the technology to either see the end of it, or have the mathematical savvy to calculate, with all the present available knowledge, the edge.

It also may be an answer that continues to change if you subscribe to the theory that it continues to expand, and by some accounts, it continues to accelerate in it's expansion.

A nearly perplexing question would be, what is beyond our universe if there is an end?

I actually personally subscribe to a theory called "Superstring Theory" that indicates our Universe may be a giant ameoba-like mass that is termed a "membrane". Everything we think of as our Universe is contained within this structure (although we may not perceive as being inside a gelatinous blob as illustraded in the metaphore of an amoeba).

Now, our membrane may be among a possible infinite amount of other membranes floating around in an unknown material or other substance similar to our own perception of space. And who knows how far apart these membranes are and again, what the space in between is, and how far it is to the edge of the membrane.

All fascinating stuff people! =)

~jaz~

Answer 4

I used to ask myself, "where does space terminate?".
Whenever I tried to visualize it, I'd see a brick wall, out at the 'end' of space... However, I then always wound up wondering, "What is on the OTHER SIDE of that wall?!?"

There is no reason to think that there is any end to space.
It is an immense, never-ending expanse.
We can't imagine it, as beyond the limits of one thing, are one or more things, each with their limits, as well... Every thing we are physically aware of, has limits. Even us... .
Thus the difficulty to understand the size of space...

Answer 5

our universe ends at the end of the milky way

Answer 6

Who says it ends?

Answer 7

where another universe begins

Answer 8

Everything has an end, we don't know where it ends, but we know it's expanding continuously. =)

Answer 9

it ends and then maybe traces back to the beginning so its on going.

Answer 10

No one knows