How much of the visible universe have we explored?

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In summary, we have only physically explored a very small fraction of the visible universe, with the majority of our exploration limited to our own solar system. This is due to the vastness of space and the limited capabilities of our current technology. While we have sent probes to all the planets in our solar system and have landed on a few, the total volume explored is only 0.00000000000000000000000000000001 percent of the observable universe. However, with advances in telescopes and spacecraft, we continue to make progress in understanding and exploring the vastness of space.
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iDimension
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I'd like to know how much of the visible universe we've physically explored. Either with space probes, rovers or in person.

I know we have a probe around every planet in our own solar system? So given the amount of galaxies, planets our there ect how much of the visible universe have we explored? As a percentage?
 
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If you were to be very generous with labeling what we've explored so far, and take the volume of a sphere with the centre at the Sun and the radius equal to how far Voyager 1 has reached(about 125 AU), it would encompass the volume equal to 0.032 cubic light-years.
The observable universe's radius is estimated at about 45 billion light years, so its total volume would be 3.7*10^32 cubic light years, or 37 with 31 zeroes.
This makes our solar system as 'explored' by Voyager be a whooping 0.00000000000000000000000000000001 percent of the observable universe.

But, as mentioned earlier, it's a very generous number. We don't have probes around every planet. We had probes fly by every planet, if that counts. We've landed probes on just a few, and they rarely remained operational for long.

Bottom line: Earth is a tiny speck in the mind-boggling vastness of space.

Have a look at this NASA page about Solar System exploration:
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Mars&Era=Present
It lists all the missions so far.
 
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iDimension said:
I'd like to know how much of the visible universe we've physically explored. Either with space probes, rovers or in person.

I know we have a probe around every planet in our own solar system? So given the amount of galaxies, planets our there ect how much of the visible universe have we explored? As a percentage?
With physical probes we have only explored the solar system, the voyager spacecraft (whose main task was a flyby of planets) are still closer to the Sun than any other star.
Rovers have only gone to the Moon and Mars, there have been a number of static landers on Mars too, and some on Venus, one on Titan.
The planets and their moons have now been studied (less so for Uranus and Neptune) by orbiters and flyby missions,and some comets and minor planets have as well.
However as well as physical probes, there have been great advances in telescopes over the last century, Hubble being the best example.
Humans have only gone to the Moon, and only for a few days each time.
The amount of observable space explored by human explorers (other than on Earth) is not much above zero,
 
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1. How do scientists measure the visible universe?

Scientists use telescopes and other observational tools to measure the visible universe. They also use mathematical models and calculations based on the known size and expansion rate of the universe.

2. How much of the visible universe have we explored?

It is estimated that we have explored less than 5% of the visible universe. This is because the visible universe is constantly expanding and there are limits to how far we can see with our current technology.

3. What is the furthest distance we have explored in the visible universe?

The furthest distance we have explored in the visible universe is approximately 13.4 billion light years. This is the distance to the edge of the observable universe, beyond which we cannot see due to the expansion of the universe.

4. Are there any areas of the visible universe that we have not explored at all?

Yes, there are many areas of the visible universe that we have not explored at all. This is because the universe is vast and constantly expanding, and our technology and resources are limited. There are also regions that are obscured by dust or other objects, making it difficult to explore.

5. Why is it important for scientists to explore the visible universe?

Exploring the visible universe allows scientists to gain a better understanding of the laws of physics and the origins of the universe. It also helps us to learn about the composition and evolution of galaxies, stars, and other celestial objects. This knowledge can also have practical applications, such as improving our understanding of space weather and potential threats to Earth.

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