Although it might be impossible to detremine, did the Big Bang have a precise time, eg 10.33 PM on 25 October 13,709,90.. BC.... or did the extreme conditions in the early universe somehow smudge time
2007-12-20 06:44:56 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Cosmologists tell us that prior to the Big Bang there was *no* time, or any 'thing' else. Therefore time first existed at the moment of the Big Bang -- T = 0
Based on the most distant cosmic structures we can observe, the age of the *observable* universe is given as 13.7-billion years, but even that isn't totally accurate because there is a vast region of the total universe that we can never see because of an event shortly after the Big Bang that caused spacetime to expand faster than the speed of light (..inflation..) It's important to recognize that there's a difference between the universe and the *observable* universe.
2007-12-20 07:10:34 · answer #1 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There was a theory called Steady State (Fred Hoyle) that said the universe was without a beginning and end... it had always been there. It solved the problem about how and when the Universe was born. This theory though was overturned in favour of the Big Bang. The universe began 13.7 billion years ago (with a margin of error of 1%). Now though we have the M Theory which says there could 11 dimensions and parallel universes and the possibilty we can see what is on the other side of the Big bang. I have never read or heard of an actual date for the big bang. I think it's fantastic the scientists can say with near certainty 13.7 billion years.
Have you seen the clip of Carl Sagen called the Cosmic Calendar?
2007-12-20 15:32:43 · answer #2 · answered by freethinker 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Time and date (as you use them) are an Earthly creation. For example, "noon" used to be a local time defined as the exact moment that the sun passed the observer's meridian.
Each town would have its own noon. Time zones were standardized a little over one century ago.
Dates are also a (relatively) recent invention. Our years, in our Anno Domini calendar, are based on calculations done by a Monk (Dionysius Exiguus = Dennis the Little) in the eyar that we now call AD 525.
Years before Christ (BC) are based on that calendar. There are many others (e.g., at the New Moon in February 2008, we will begin the year 4706 -- the year of the Rat -- in the Chinese calendar).
Since the Earth did not exist in the first nine to ten billion years of the universe, it would be difficult to talk of dates and time of day for the Big Bang (or for anything prior to recorded history).
Keep in mind, also, that Earth's spin is slowing down (the braking effect of the Moon's tidal effect) so that days were much shorter, a long time ago. Should dates be counted according to the younger Earth's rotation period (one date per rotation) or according to the present rate (one date per 24 hours).
The complications of stretching the date/time-of-day system backwards too far, would be the main difficulty in trying to fix any precise time that far back.
2007-12-20 15:12:07 · answer #3 · answered by Raymond 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Current estimates put the age of the cosmos at something between 14 and 20 billion years old. We of course haven't any clue the exact age(yet), but if we were to find out one day, then we would be able to celebrate the universes birthday!
2007-12-20 14:52:46 · answer #4 · answered by Hitmytotem 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
There is no precise time and date of the Big Bang.
There was no one alive to make such a measurement and record the moment.
There are some very good estimates but that is as good as it gets.
2007-12-20 17:31:58 · answer #5 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This time issue seems to be the question. Time is only based on our existence, sorta a like "would there be a sound if no one was there to hear it"? I believe time other than as a measurement does not exist. Rather everything, from the beginning to now is one existence. Cool to discuss.
2007-12-20 14:55:50 · answer #6 · answered by edubya 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Time isn't a constant like a meter or kilogram. In fact, for something that is traveling near the speed of light, time slows down considerably.
2007-12-20 15:00:03 · answer #7 · answered by mcalhoun333 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
One answer got it right. When the big bang happened in your neck of the woods depends on where you have been. The world is not the same for vagabonds as it is for accountants.
:-)
2007-12-20 15:26:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's impossible to figure.
We know it happened approximately 13.7 billion years ago.
2007-12-20 14:53:20 · answer #9 · answered by Jansen J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋