How big is the universe?
I wondered if you know what is the current record holder for the most distant object from Earth. If you could point me at a URL with pictures I would be grateful. So far I have found this BBC article but it is a little short on astronomical detail and may not be up to date. You might say that the most distant object visible from Earth is the Cosmic Microwave Background, the remaining heat from the Big Bang which is visible all around us. The Background is found at a distance of about 15 billion light-years from us in all directions. It appears as a smooth, even distribution of thermal radiation with a temperature of about 3 degrees Kelvin. Have look at The COBE site for more info on how the CMB is observed. If you’re picky about what you call an “object,” the CMB may not qualify. The most distant objects observed are generally quasars, famously bright nuclei of active galaxies. Quasars are found out to a redshift of about z=6, or about 12 billion light years. (The CMB is at a redshift
One of the interesting arguments for a great age of the earth is the size of the universe. The argument goes like this: Since the farthest galaxies are 13 billion light years away,* these galaxies must have existed 13 billion years ago. (That is when the light that now reaches our telescopes must have started on its way.) Since the galaxies were formed 13 billion years ago, the earth must have also evolved billions of years ago. *One popular estimate at the time of this writing. If you read our Creation Versus Evolution page, or our Dinosaurs and the Bible page you know that we stated that the earth is less than 10,000 years old. If the universe was formed 13 billion years ago as a result of a big bang (or some other mechanism), this young age of 10,000 years does not seem reasonable. However, a straightforward reading of the creation account in Genesis does not allow for the universe (and our world) to evolve over billions of years. Since the predicted ages from these two sources are
Yes Since the universe, by definition, encompasses the spatial dimensions in their entirety, thats about as close to an answer as you can possibly get.suxmonkey, on 10/10/2007, -8/+90The question I really want answered is: is it expanding forever or will it eventually contract? If it contracts things will eventually start over again, but if it expands, well, that’s that. My brain hurts thinking about it.Chaoticfist, on 10/10/2007, -2/+80Based on my experience in GTA San Andreas. The world has no end. You just keep going out but the picture stays the same.TheCosmicFool, on 10/10/2007, -8/+67Ooh I love these types of questions.. the ones with no answers…fluidfoundation, on 10/10/2007, -6/+63Sorry, too big of a fan to not add the actual quote: “Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that’s just peanuts to space. ” Dugg you anyway for the great reference.Lorddias, on 10
