My question: How do they know this? From what I understand, there aren't any edges on the universe off which to bounce light or anything else.
2007-09-10 19:21:21 · 8 answers · asked by Caysie101 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The interesting thing, to me, is that the universe is estimated to be 30 billion years old but it is 150 billion light years across.
It just underscores the tremendous energy released by the big bang (and that the expansion of the universe in th first few moments was enormously greater than the speed of light.)
I've always likes this quote: "Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine."
2007-09-10 19:37:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I posted a similar question recently. How could it have a finite measurement because when you got to the edge, something has to be beyond the edge... If you look up at your ceiling theres something on the other side.. So lets say that it is something like a figure 8 and you end up where you started.. Well then if its 3d whats outside of the figure 8?
The universe is suppose to expanding at the speed of light. Well, how can it be a certain dimension if it is expanding.. If you could travel at the speed of light you wouldnt get any closer to the end or edge than you are now.
The only thing that I can come up with is this is all an illusion, like the holodome in Star Trek..Also since everything is made of atoms, the atoms could be the projection media like a movie film is a projection media. The film seems real but its just a series of shadows and light...We live as a 3 dimensional projection of atoms.. A projection that the spirit uses to become physical because it needs the play of life to grow.
Think Im crazy, Ok whats your answer?
2007-09-11 02:54:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "edge" of the universe is a band of microwave radiation believed to be the remnants of the big bang. This ring of radiation is around 160 billion light years in diameter.
On a side note, it wasn't that anything really moved faster than light just after the big bang, but that the definition of space actually bent around the bang. In other words, the shape of the universe is dependent on the distribution of matter in it.
2007-09-11 02:49:07 · answer #3 · answered by violentquaker 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
scientist proclaim that the age of the universe is 13 billion years old. using a formula that factors in the rate of expansion since the big bang and the age of the universe, they've concluded that the universe is 160 billion lightyears across. on the other hand, 160 billion lightyears is a big enough number to be considered 'infinite'.
2007-09-11 02:35:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tammi D is pretty well spot on. We have no real "Measuring stick" for the universe, rather a whole lot of hypotheses taking in to account the time of the big-bang, and the observable rate of the expansion of the universe. Let us just say that it is very, very big :-) .
2007-09-11 02:33:56 · answer #5 · answered by firefysh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you had watched the programme on any science promoting channels such as Discovery etc., they would have definitely told the hypothesis made which lead them to the final result of 160bn light years. Visit the channel's website for correspondence in case you missed out that part.
2007-09-11 02:46:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's by measuring to the most distant objects we can detect. The Universe is probably even a bit larger than that.
Doug
2007-09-11 02:29:35 · answer #7 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i haven't studied cosmology in any detail.
my guess is that it is based on some assumptions about the age of the universe and the rate of its expansion since the big bang event
2007-09-11 02:27:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋