What is the observable universe?

The observable universe, also known as the volume of Hubble, is an area of ​​space that can theoretically be observed for us, that the light from the farthest areas has enough time to reach Earth from the Big Bang. This area of ​​space has an average of approximately 92.94 billion light -years, focused on planet Earth. Every other part of space has its own visible universe, some overlapping, others not.

There are a number of misconceptions about the concept of observable universe. The first is that its size equals its age in the years when speed light in a year, about 15 billion light -years. This number would be true if it was flat, but thanks to Einstein we know that the universe is highly curved at cosmological distances on the basis of its expansion.

The second misconception is that what is observation is also false; It only denotes the area of ​​space, it is theoretically possible for us to observe. A real universe can be much greater - or completeCe smaller. There is a chance that the distant galaxies we see are in fact the light of closer galaxies that have surrounded the universe more than once. Because light would have a radically different age, it would be difficult, not if it is impossible to say that they come from the same galaxy. But most likely the universe itself is much greater than what can be observed.

The terms "universe" and "observable universe" are sometimes used interchangeably, because regions beyond what we see, according to the definitions are causally disconnected from us. We cannot observe, much less influence, these regions and inversions also apply. In addition to being gigantic, our entire universe is probably only one of the larger sets of parallel universes known as Multiverse.