The observable universe extends to about 93 billion light-years in diameter. This measurement arises from the combination of the age of the universe (approximately 13.8 billion years) and the expansion of space itself.
Here’s how we arrive at this figure:
1. **Age of the Universe**: The universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old. Light has been traveling for 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang.
2. **Expansion of Space**: The universe has been expanding since the Big Bang. Due to this expansion, the distance that light has traveled is greater than 13.8 billion light-years. This is because space itself is stretching, which increases the distance between objects over time.
3. **Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)**: Observations of the CMB, which is the afterglow of the Big Bang, help scientists determine the rate of expansion and other properties of the universe.
Combining these factors, scientists calculate that the observable universe stretches out to about 46.5 billion light-years in any direction, resulting in a total diameter of around 93 billion light-years.
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