where does the universe end?

Answer 1

Well there is one theory that the universe curls back around onto itself. A way you could begin to understand a model of this would be to look at a Mobius Strip: http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae401.cfm

This is just one theory and there are indeed many others. I do not pretend to know, but just offering up another possibility rather than "it doesn't". Maybe, "it doesn’t'" is the real answer?

Answer 2

This is a very interesting question. Unfortunately, the answer is a bit esoteric, but here goes.

For us to be able to see something, light must come from there to us to observe. Imagine a star that is moving away from us (as the universe expands). Light travels at 186,000 miles per second, so light from a star 186,000 miles away would take a second to reach us. In other words, we see that star as it was 1 second ago. (Light from the sun actually takes 8 minutes to reach us as it is that far away). A star that is a light-year away will give off light that takes a year to reach us, ie. we see it as it was 1 year ago. So, the further away the object, the longer it takes light to reach us, ie the older the object was when it gave off the light. So, looking in to the depths of space is actually looking in to the past. Given that the universe has a finite age (it is thought about 5 billion years or so), the earliest object we can currently observe is from about 300,000 years after the universe was formed. (Currently, other physical phenomena prevent scientists from being too sure about things before this). Next comes the hard bit. Given that light (and therefore matter) are inextricably linked with time, the universe must 'end' at the light frontier. To say it 'end's is not quite right though. There is no-'thing' beyond because there is no-'where' or indeed no-'when'. Basically, if there is no 'when' for something to exist in, then that place does not exist, so there is nothing 'beyond' the edge of the universe. The universe by definition includes everything that exists. (probably...)
Have a look at Stephen Hawking's Brief History of Time for a far better explanation than I could ever give.

Answer 3

For the COSMOS and TIME, no beginning ----- no endendendendendendendendendendendendendendendend -- EVEN IF THIS UNIVERSE STOPS MAKING STARS, and everything we see now, becomes dead and ashen, space, which IS the Cosmos, is eternal and infinite. There's a whole lot of time and real estate for something else to happen.
The stars we see are the energy that empty space seems to keep producing. Remember, all of endless infinity is behind us, and still we see new stars being produced. What'dya make of that?!!!! Don't tell me that through all of infinity, we just happened to be born during a 5 to 10-billion year 'star period'. endddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd ? No.

Answer 4

The universe, according to big bang theory, is the surface of a 4-dimensional sphere. The four dimensions are 3 of space and 1 of time. Gravity is a 4-dimensional curvature of space-time, so if you imagine that curve going in a complete circle, that's the universe. Since the uiverse is also expanding, it's like a balloon getting bigger. The Hubble telescope determined that the expansion rate of space is about 80 kps per megaparsec. At that rate, the expansion exceeds the speed of light at about 15 billion lightyears distance. That could be viewed as the end of the universe from our vantage point, becuase no information can exceed the speed of light, and allow us to see anything beyond that point. At that distance, we would see the big bang itself (since looking far is also looking backward in time because of the speed of light).

Answer 5

The universe has no ending and no beginning.

However, it started with the big bang and would end with one. Do not worry this would not happen for some time.

Answer 6

This is indeed a "very" good question, but I can only help by stating I think our Universe is shaped like a sphere and is "spinning" on its axis. The size is around 20 bullion light years in diameter, but due to my lack of knowledge & comprehension, I have no idea what lies outside our Universes boundary !

Answer 7

The universe is "everything." A defined end is a thing, which must by definition be included in everything. Therefore, the universe doesn't have one.

I challenge you to prove me wrong.

Unless you mean where does one universe end and another begin... like in string theory? In that case, it's right here. =>
You just can't perceive it. We know it's there because the gravity has to go somewhere.

Answer 8

Hi Clive

good question

one I often wonder about there are some great answers on here for you---Sometimes when I look out at the sky and think about the universe I find it a bit scary whats out there for gods sake---how far does it stretch I don't know about you but I cannot grasp or understand the vastness of it

Answer 9

The universe is expanding at or above speed of light so its impossible to reach the end.

Answer 10

there is no end to the universe. just because mankind can not perceive such a thing does not mean it doesn't exist.
Humans are arrogant. they believe in only what they can do and if they cant do it it cant be done.