If the Universe is about 13.7 billion years old, and the diameter of the observable universe is 93 billion light years, how can it be that wide if the universe isn’t even old enough to let light travel that far that quickly?

Question

If the Universe is about 13.7 billion years old, and the diameter of the observable universe is 93 billion light years, how can it be that wide if the universe isn’t even old enough to let light travel that far that quickly?

In: 5624

Answer 1

Space itself expands at whatever rate it wants – because it’s not bound by light speed constraints. And it’s moving in every direction.

If you and I both start walking in opposite directions at 1 mph, we will be 2 miles apart after one hour. Scale that up.