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When astronomers say that the universe became transparent years after the big bang what do they mean?
In the early period after the Big Bang, the universe consisted of a plasma of nuclei, electrons and photons. These protons were bound in the plasma and not free to move about. About 0.4 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe had cooled to around 4000 K, photons stopped being in thermal equilibrium with matter: the universe became transparent to photons - light could move about.
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What is Astronomers have been studying the universe for many years. why don't astronomers know more about out universe if they have been studying it for so long?
Despite many years of study, astronomers face significant challenges in understanding the universe due to its vastness and complexity. The universe is constantly changing, and many phenomena occur over timescales that are difficult to observe. Additionally, much of the universe is made up of dark matter and dark energy, which remain poorly understood. The limitations of current technology and the vast distances involved also hinder our ability to gather comprehensive data.
How do astronomers locate other stars trillion light years away?
They can't. The universe is only about 13 billion years old. If there are galaxies a trillion light years away their light has not reached us yet and due to the expansion of the universe, never will. At the edge of what we call the observable universe we cannot make out individual stars, but we can detect galaxies using infrared telescopes.
Diameter of the universe?
With current technology, astronomers are able to detect objects (galaxies) out to about 14 billion light years from us in every direction. We don't know what's farther than that.
Is it possible to look into space to see the beginning of the universe?
No, we cannot see the actual beginning of the universe because the universe is estimated to be about 13.8 billion years old, and visible light can only travel so far. However, by studying the cosmic microwave background radiation, astronomers can observe some of the oldest light in the universe, which gives insight into the early stages of its development.
How did the universe look a googol years ago?
There was no universe a googol years ago. The universe is only between 10-20 billion years old.
When the universe turned transparent?
About 377,000 years after the Big Bang, the density of matter and photons in our Universe dropped to the point where photons were no longer likely to blast electrons away from nuclei. At this point, photons could travel freely throughout our Universe, which meant our Universe had become "transparent" to light (it had previously become transparent to neutrinos). The photons that became free to roam eventually reached our Earth, and are now seen as the CMBR.
How long have astronomers been trying to find out what the sun orbits?
For two or three hundred years, astronomers have had a fair idea the the Sun is not the center of the Universe.
How do astronomers know the universe is infinite?
The universe is not infinite. It is 156 billion light-years wide. A light-year is equivalent to about 9,500 billion km
What is Astronomers have been studying the universe for many years. why don't astronomers know more about out universe if they have been studying it for so long?
Despite many years of study, astronomers face significant challenges in understanding the universe due to its vastness and complexity. The universe is constantly changing, and many phenomena occur over timescales that are difficult to observe. Additionally, much of the universe is made up of dark matter and dark energy, which remain poorly understood. The limitations of current technology and the vast distances involved also hinder our ability to gather comprehensive data.
The universe is so large that astronomers measure distance between stars instead of kilometers?
light-years, parsecs, and megaparsecs
How do astronomers find out about changes in galaxies over time?
Astronomers can watch galaxies that are far away. Since the light takes billions of years to reach us from the farthest known galaxies, they would be watching galaxies in the early Universe. It turns out, from such observations, that the Universe is changing.
Whats the biggest struture in the universe?
Astronomers have found a mind-bogglingly large structure so big it takes light 10 billion years to traverse in a distant part of the universe.
What do you think that astronomers mean when they use the term observable universe?
They mean the part of the universe that we can see with the naked eye, through telescope, or the amount of light years we can travel without dying
Does the universe have a definite size?
The universe has been continuously growing since the Big Bang, and there is no way to accurately measure it, so no. Comments: In fact astronomers have estimated the size of the "Observable Universe". They say there's probably a lot more that we can't see. The Universe is about 13.8 billion years old. That gives the maximum distance we can observe as 13.8 billion light years. But while the light from the "edge" of the Observable Universe has been travelling to us, the Universe has been expanding. Astronomers have estimated how far away that edge is NOW. The usual estimate given for the "real" radius of the Observable Universe is about 46 billion light years.
Why do astronomers believe the universe began with an explosion?
Astronomers believe the universe began with an explosion, known as the Big Bang, because of the observed expansion of the universe, the cosmic microwave background radiation, and the abundance of light elements like hydrogen and helium. These pieces of evidence support the idea that the universe started from an incredibly hot and dense state about 13.8 billion years ago.
How do astonomers measure the distance to nearby stars?
Astronomers use the unit of measure "Light Years" to calculate the distance between pretty much anything in the Universe.
How do astronomers locate other stars trillion light years away?
They can't. The universe is only about 13 billion years old. If there are galaxies a trillion light years away their light has not reached us yet and due to the expansion of the universe, never will. At the edge of what we call the observable universe we cannot make out individual stars, but we can detect galaxies using infrared telescopes.
