What can we see from the farthest reaches of the universe?

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    Edge Universe
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the edge of the universe, exploring what lies beyond the known visible universe and the nature of the universe's topology. Participants engage in speculative reasoning about the universe's boundaries and the implications of its structure.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions what the edge of the universe looks like, suggesting a curiosity about the nature of the universe beyond the visible limits.
  • Another participant argues that there is no edge to the universe as currently understood, proposing that the universe is "flat, infinite" or potentially toroidal in shape.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that the question of what lies beyond the known universe is fundamentally unanswerable, emphasizing that the universe cannot be conceptualized from an external perspective.
  • Several participants reiterate the hypothetical nature of the inquiry, framing it as a question about existence beyond all known realms.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of the universe's edge. Multiple competing views are presented, with some asserting the absence of an edge and others exploring the implications of such a concept.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects limitations in understanding the universe's topology and the constraints of human perception regarding the concept of "beyond" the universe.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in cosmology, theoretical physics, and the philosophical implications of the universe's structure may find this discussion relevant.

Lewis123
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Hypothetically, what does the edge of the universe look like?

Past our known visible universe to the edge of the expanding universe what is it like?
 
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As far as we can tell there isn't one... at least, no reason to think there may be an edge way way out there the way you seem to be thinking.

The current simplest best model for the overall topology of the Universe is "flat, infinite".
It may be that the Universe is closed in the sense that hypothetical travellers could keep going in one direction and eventually and up where they started.
The simplest non-infinite Universe that fits the data would be Toroidal.
 
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You are effectively asking 'what is beyond all that is known'. A shaman would roll his eyes and simply respond 'the unknown'. A scientist would shrug and say 'nothing'. While that sounds pretty vacuous, it captures the essence of the question. You cannot picture the universe from outside the universe because everywhere and anywhere possible to go is, by definition, part of this universe. The only known constraint is called the particle horizon - the distance photons have traveled since the beginning of time and that 'boundary' continues to recede from us at light speed. Distance, however, is always relative to something and that something is the big bang: which turns out to be singularly unhelpful. The big bang occurred everywhere - not at some uniquely identifiable location.
 
@Lewis123 I recommend the link in my signature
 
Lewis123 said:
Hypothetically, what does the edge of the universe look like?
You are asking what exists outside of everything that exists.
 

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