Researchers have estimated the number of stars in the Universe as 70 sextillion. That's a 7 followed by 22 zeros.

Here's the story.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/07/22/s...rvey/index.html

Definitely a lot more than the number of burgers served at McDonald's ;-)

Only one, and I already claimed him :inlove:

So far...... :P

Hmmmmm..... I don't remember meeting you!!

:agrin:

This story is probably less spectacular than it seems. I estimated (with the most naive assumptions) 40 sextillion a few months ago. It's all about the number of zero's ;-)

Either that or the universe is growing spectacularly fast.



Last edited by Colin at Jul 22 2003, 01:00 PM

My guess would be all of them.

As the universe expands from the center outwards my worry is how much stretching can gravity take before the galaxies on the outer edge tear it and rip the universe to pieces? :huh:






Damn that thing they call punctuation... Damn it to hell I say



Last edited by Trev at Jul 23 2003, 08:35 AM

As the universe expands from the center outwards my worry is how much stretching can gravity take before the galaxies on the outer edge tear it and rip the universe to pieces? :huh:






Damn that thing they call punctuation... Damn it to hell I say[/b][/quote]
:huh:

You're assuming that the "big bang" model is correct. It may not be . There are other models.....


:P

It's been proven that we are in fact moving further and further away from the nearest galaxy to us, to think that this is limited to just two galaxies would be foolish... :P

I also never said that I believe in the big bang, I just think given the facts we have that even the elasticity of gravity has got to have a limit

It's the opposite. There's a "local group" of galaxies (Milky Way, Andromeda, and others) that are moving towards each other.

It's more distant objects that were are moving away from.

It's the opposite. There's a "local group" of galaxies (Milky Way, Andromeda, and others) that are moving towards each other.

It's more distant objects that were are moving away from.[/b][/quote]
Sir I stand corrected :D

It's the opposite. There's a "local group" of galaxies (Milky Way, Andromeda, and others) that are moving towards each other.

It's more distant objects that were are moving away from.[/b][/quote]
:)

Okay , there seems to be intelligent , open minded ppl on this board, so I'll take the plunge off the deep end.

What I am questioning is the reality and nature of the appearant expansion of the Universe . The notion of expansion is mostly derived from the doppler effect exibited by very distant objects . However , these objects are distant , not only in space , but in time as well . The doppler effect may have as much , if not more , to do with their temporal distance than with their spacial distance .
Given that the nature of the space-time continuum is poorly understood , we should not jump to conclusions regarding cosmic expansion .

P.S.
Sorry , treve, to have made assumtions about your belief or non-belief in the Big Bang.

:)

Anybody here (besides Colin) ever heard of entropy?

Hmmm. If you're suggesting that the expansion is real and explained by Entropy, that strikes me as somewhat tautological .

:awinky:

I heard them back when they where still a garage band... Great tunes!

OK! so much for the assumption of intelligence...

Beam me up, Scotty! :biglaugh:

I wouldn't say it is conclusive but there is much more evidence for the big bang than the redshift of distance objects. Many observations are consistent with the Big Bang model but none have outright contradicted it. The background radiation prediction (1960s) is good.

A good friend of mine in college (major, physics) didn't believe there was enough evidence for the Big Bang.

There are enough Big Bang heretics out there to keep the fire burning.

I heard them back when they where still a garage band... Great tunes![/b][/quote]
But have you seen the movie?

Actually, what I was referring to was the idea that the expansion of the universe will not continue; but, at some point, will reverse.



Last edited by Torone at Jul 24 2003, 07:03 AM

Knowing if the quantity of matter in the universe is infinite or finite is the only way of being able to answer a question such as this...

Infinite = The Universe expands forever gradually cooling and life eventually freezes. I ask can gravity support continual expansion?

Finite = Eventually there is no matter left to support the expansion so the Universe begins to contract gradually heating up.

I lean towards the latter of the two and I personally believe it will lead to eventual gravitational collapse.