If the universe is 13 billion years old how do we have stars 45 billion light years from earth? Wouldn’t that light take 45 billion years to reach us?
In: Physics
After having read all the responses to this question, I will say that there are some inconsistencies that I still cannot reconcile. First, let me explain my understanding, then I’ll pose some questions that perhaps one of you brainiacs can answer.
1. The Big Bang took place approximately 13.5 billion years ago. 2. Just before the bang, all the matter/energy that existed in the universe was condensed down into a golf ball (or smaller) bit of matter. 3. When the bang happened, that matter was ejected out and now comprises all the observable and unobservable matter/energy that exists today. 4. Matter, energy, photons, etc. are all constrained by the speed of light. 5. If matter originated at the center of that golf ball sized mass and is constrained by the speed of light in its speed away from the point of origin in space/time of that bang, then the maximum distance from that central point would be 27 billion light years. 6. Even if space were expanding between two bits of matter, then due to the relative position of those bits of matter from one another, they would appear to be moving away from one another at a speed that is greater than the speed of light. 7. The only thing that would make sense to me is if the Big Bang happened and all matter and energy was ejected instantaneously at a speed far greater than the speed of light. Then, at a later time, the laws of physics took hold and the speed of light was constrained.
Question time!
1. How can two bits of matter in our universe be a greater distance apart than 27 billion light years? 2. Even if the fabric of space time were expanding and accelerating, wouldn’t the relative distance between us and another object on the other side of the universe necessarily have to move and speeds well beyond the speed of light? 3. What is earth’s distance from the point of origin of the Big Bang? 4. Are we on the outer edge of the universe, or somewhere in the middle? 5. Was the Big Bang one large explosion like a stick of dynamite, or was it more like a firework which released all of its matter and energy over the course of some quantifiable time?
The only thing that would make sense to me about a photon being observed at a distance greater than 27 billion light years away would be if the star that emitted that photon was already at a distance from us here on Earth (say, 20 billion light years away) instantaneously after the Big Bang happened; and was traveling away from us here on earth at the speed of light. Then the next question would be, what tool would be able to measure or even observe that photon?
Too many questions… too few answers…
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