How Big is the Universe?

TL;DR

The observable universe is 93 billion light years across, and while it has a center (earth), the whole universe is likely infinite and does not have a spatial edge.

Transcript

The Universe. How big is it? Does it have a center? Does it have an edge? Is it getting bigger, and if so, why? Well, we know that there are two different meanings for "universe" - first, the "observable universe" is everything that we've been able to see, or observe, thus far. And second, "The Universe" (or "the whole universe") means everything t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙂 The observable universe is not 27.5 billion light years across as expected due to space expansion.
• 🦔 The whole universe is likely infinite and does not have a spatial edge.
• ❓ Each individual is at the center of their own observable universe.
• 😃 The universe is expanding, making both the observable universe and the whole universe bigger.
• 🌍 Earth is at the center of the observable universe, but it does not mean it is the center of the whole universe.
• 🦔 The observable universe has a temporal edge or beginning.
• 😃 The size of the observable universe is incomprehensibly big compared to the size of the earth.

Questions & Answers

Q: How big is the observable universe?

The observable universe is currently 93 billion light years across due to space expansion.

Q: Does the universe have a center?

The observable universe has a center, which is earth. However, each individual is also at the center of their own observable universe.

Q: Does the universe have an edge?

The observable universe has a temporal edge or beginning, but it is most likely infinite and does not have a spatial edge.

Q: Is the universe getting bigger?

Yes, the universe is getting bigger due to space expansion. The observable universe also gets bigger over time as we see older and older light from more distant places.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The observable universe is everything we can see and is about 93 billion light years across due to space expansion.

• Earth is at the center of the observable universe, but each individual is also at the center of their own observable universe.

• The whole universe is likely infinite and does not have a spatial edge, although it has a temporal edge or beginning.