How big is the Universe

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by Karls48

That definitely was not intension of me writing it. Although I consider myself as agnostic lately, it is only because I come to conclusion that I’m hypocrite if I say that I’m atheist. I do not believe in creator but it is only my conviction. I do not have proof. Therefore if I insist on being atheist without any proof I place myself on same level as creationist or any religious fanatic. I’m atheist by believe but agnostic because I really don’t have proof for my conviction.

As an Atheist it is not your job to prove of dis-prove a proposition that
wasn't put forth by you, and why would you. The question is simply
irrelevant.

Cheers,CS

[sjastro]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Sorry to be late in thanking everyone for their input...but thank you all.
May I ask this...
If we have the Big Bang theory and observations consistent with it can they not extrapolate how big it must be by now with reasonable accuracy.
alex

It depends on whether the accelerated expansion of the Universe has remained constant since the end of the Inflation era. (And that is assuming of course the acceleration started from that point of time.)

Since the Universe has expanded by a certain amount in the period of time it takes the light for distant objects to reach us a scale factor is introduced. The scale factor can only be reasonably accurate if the acceleration has stayed constant.

If the acceleration has varied with time then we have no way of accurately determining how large the observable Universe is.

Steven

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Karls48

As I see it – if the speed of light is absolute limit – there is no point in anything at all. Humanity is doom to spend its time in our solar system.

Hi,

It would operate as a sort of Mother Nature's quarantine, wouldn't it?

That is why I don't believe in flying saucers. Little green men are out there somewhere, almost certainly I think, but they can't reach us (I hope).

As a whimsical variation I have given myself the shivers by reflecting that there are creatures like the Alien somewhere in the Universe. Whatever you can conceive it ought to exist somewhere in space-time.

Agree?

Cheers

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by avandonk

Alex here is a reasonable doco on the infinite and other problems. It fails somewhat due to the tabloid type of treatment.

It is a 175MB FLV

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...59998068380459

Bert

Thank you very much Bert now I have a reason to go into the office and use the fast net... I am on dial up at the moment that cracks along at anything up to 25 ks per sec

alex

[renormalised (Carl)]

It would operate as a sort of Mother Nature's quarantine, wouldn't it?

That is why I don't believe in flying saucers. Little green men are out there somewhere, almost certainly I think, but they can't reach us (I hope).

Ah....but does it??. Just because one scientist comes up with an idea that everyone else fawns over and it happens to fit experimental evidence, so far, doesn't mean that it's cast in stone. Just because we can't do something doesn't mean that someone else can't.

The problem is that when something lies outside of an accepted scientific paradigm, and gets lumped in with the kooky quasi-religious side, scientists will ignore it for the most part. People will paraphrase Sagan by saying "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"...and that is a load of crock. Scientists deal with a great number of things, including very cherished theories, that have even less to do with reality than ET or UFO's, yet are perfectly acceptable.

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by sjastro

It depends on whether the accelerated expansion of the Universe has remained constant since the end of the Inflation era. (And that is assuming of course the acceleration started from that point of time.)

Since the Universe has expanded by a certain amount in the period of time it takes the light for distant objects to reach us a scale factor is introduced. The scale factor can only be reasonably accurate if the acceleration has stayed constant.

If the acceleration has varied with time then we have no way of accurately determining how large the observable Universe is.

Steven

Thank you Steven... and if the acceleration of the expansion is as suspected I guess that makes it harder again.

alex