The Center and Shape of the Universe: Exploring its Vastness and Curvature

KOMPAS.com – The universe is vast. There are many planets, solar systems, stars, galaxies and other objects that make up the universe.

Given that it is so large and vast, where is the center of the universe? If so, what is the center of the universe like?

The center of the universe

Reported from Live Science, the universe, in fact, has no center. Since the Big Bang occurred 13.7 billion years ago, the universe has continued to expand.

However, despite its name, the Big Bang did not explode from the center of the explosion. The universe started very dense and small. Then, every point in the universe expanded evenly, and this has continued to this day. So, without a point of origin, the universe would have no center.

Also read: What is the oldest black hole in the universe like?

For comparison, try to imagine a two-dimensional ant living on the surface of a perfectly spherical balloon. From the ant’s point of view, all surfaces look the same; there is no center on the surface of the ball, nor are there any edges.

What is the shape of the universe?

The shape of the universe, whether flat or curved, depends on the total amount of mass and energy in the cosmos.

If the mass and energy densities of the universe were just right, at the so-called critical density, then the universe would be flat like a sheet, expanding at an ever-increasing rate.

However, if the density were higher, then the universe would be curved like a balloon. The extra gravity from this increased density would have slowed cosmic expansion, eventually stopping it from growing.

Also read: How Many Kinds of Galaxies Are There in the Universe?

Meanwhile, at a density that is less than the critical density, the cosmic expansion will be even faster. In this scenario, the universe would have negative curvature, with a saddle-like shape. However, the universe remains infinite, and has no center.

So far, theoretical ideas and observations, such as the cosmic microwave background radiation and the flare of light from the Big Bang, suggest that the universe is extremely flat.

However, cosmologists are still unsure whether the universe is flat or if the curvature is so wide that the universe just appears flat, similar to how the Earth feels flat on its surface.

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2023-07-12 10:00:00
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