How Big Is the Universe? An LA Freeway Answer

1 min read

The observable universe is about 93 billion light-years wide. At 75 mph you would need about 831 quadrillion years to cross it.

The width

The observable universe is about 93 billion light-years across, measured as comoving distance. That is the part of the cosmos whose light has had time to reach us.

The age

The universe is about 13.8 billion years old. The Planck satellite measured 13.787 billion years, give or take 20 million.

Why wider than old?

Space has been expanding the whole time light was travelling. Light from the most distant regions left them when they were much closer.

The freeway

Drive at 75 mph, a normal LA freeway speed. Light covers in one year a distance that would take you about 9 million years to drive.

The math

At 75 mph, crossing 93 billion light-years takes about 8.3 × 10^17 years. That is roughly 60 million times the age of the universe.

RelatedSt. Thérèse’s Thimble: Every Soul Full, Not Every Soul Equal

A smaller trip

Even Andromeda, the nearest big galaxy at about 2.5 million light-years, would take over 20 trillion years by car.

The scripture

1 Kings 8:27 says “the heaven of heavens cannot contain” God. The size of the cosmos makes that line feel less like poetry.

Anthony’s point

If heaven is larger than the universe, room is not the problem. What you build while you are here is the question.

Sources

• Wikipedia, “Observable universe” (93 billion light-years comoving diameter).
• Planck Collaboration (2018), Planck 2018 results VI (age 13.787 billion years).
• NASA, “Andromeda Galaxy” (about 2.5 million light-years).
• 1 Kings 8:27, Bible Gateway.

Part of Is There Room for You? The Heaven Room series.

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Anthony Perlas · nightlifereport.app

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