Demystifying the Hubble Constant

In summary, the Hubble Constant is a measure of the rate at which the universe is expanding and is important in understanding the age, size, and evolution of the universe. It is calculated by measuring the distance to objects in the universe and their redshift, and controversy surrounds its value due to conflicting results from different measurement methods. The Hubble Constant is crucial in our understanding of the universe, as it helps determine its age, expansion rate, and composition. Current research efforts are focused on determining the most accurate value of the Hubble Constant through various methods and technologies.
  • #1
MikeinSpain
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This year alone we have conflicting speeds for the Hubble Constant with 67.66 (+ or - 0.42) from the Planck Mission and 73.45 (+ or - 1.66) from the Hubble Space Telescope.

The answer is simply found, and is between those figures.

The furthest thing we can see (in theory) is 13.8 billion light years away, the Universe being that old.

Divide 13.8 billion light years into one million megaparsec sections, as that is how the Hubble Constant is measured and you get 13.8 billion divided by 3.26 million equals just over 4,233.

The speed of light in kms is 298,051 kms/sec which is the apparent speed of expansion at 13.8 billion light years from us. Divide that by 4,233 and you get a Hubble Constant of 70.409 kms/sec for expansion.
 
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  • #2
MikeinSpain said:
The furthest thing we can see (in theory) is 13.8 billion light years away, the Universe being that old.

No, this is not correct. The furthest thing we can see is about 47 billion light-years away. It has moved away from us all the time that the light it emitted 13.8 billion years ago was traveling to us, due to the universe expanding. This means that the simple relationship you are assuming between light travel time and distance does not hold (it only holds in flat spacetime, and the spacetime describing the universe as a whole is not flat).

MikeinSpain said:
The speed of light in kms is 298,051 kms/sec

Huh? This is not the correct number; the correct number is 299,792.458 km/s.

The rest of your post appears to be personal speculation based on the above mistake. Please review the PF rules on personal speculations.

Thread closed.
 
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What is the Hubble Constant and why is it important?

The Hubble Constant is a measure of the rate at which the universe is expanding. It is important because it helps us understand the age, size, and evolution of the universe.

How is the Hubble Constant calculated?

The Hubble Constant is calculated by measuring the distance to objects in the universe and their redshift (the amount that their light is stretched as the universe expands). This is then used to determine the rate at which the universe is expanding.

Why is there controversy surrounding the value of the Hubble Constant?

There is controversy surrounding the value of the Hubble Constant because different methods of measurement have produced different results. This could be due to systematic errors in the measurements or unknown physics affecting the expansion of the universe.

How does the Hubble Constant impact our understanding of the universe?

The Hubble Constant is a crucial piece of information in our understanding of the universe. It helps us determine the age of the universe, the rate of its expansion, and the amount of matter and energy it contains. It also plays a role in theories about the fate of the universe.

What are some current research efforts focused on demystifying the Hubble Constant?

There are several ongoing research efforts aimed at determining the most accurate value of the Hubble Constant. These include using gravitational lensing, studying the cosmic microwave background radiation, and combining data from different sources to reduce uncertainties. New technologies and observations are also being developed to improve our understanding of the Hubble Constant.

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