Observable Universe

Part of Scales of the Universe.

Observable universe_HERO AMNH/D. Finnin

Our observable universe extends more than 10^26 meters in every direction. While the entire universe may be boundless, the part we can observe does have an edge. Our cosmic horizon is at the distance from which light must travel for the entire age of the universe to reach our location in space. Light from beyond this horizon has not yet had enough time to reach us, even if it started its journey when the universe began. In our 13 billion-year-old universe, the cosmic horizon is 13 billion light-years away.

Scales of the Universe: 10(24) Meters
If the Hayden Sphere is the size of our observable universe, then this model is the relative size of the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies.
Virgo supercluster
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales of the Universe: 10(23) Meters
The Virgo Cluster, at the heart of the Virgo Supercluster, contains more than two thousand galaxies
Scales of the Universe: 10(22) Meters
If the Hayden Sphere is the size of the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies, then this model is the relative size of the Local Group of galaxies. Our Local Group is a collection of a few dozen galaxies, bound together by their mutual gravity, located near the outskirts of the Virgo Supercluster.
Local group
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales of the Universe: 10(21) Meters

In This Section

Exhibit Virgo Supercluster If the Hayden Sphere is the size of our observable universe, then this model is the relative size of the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies. Exhibit Local Group If the Hayden Sphere is the size of the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies, then this model is the relative size of the Local Group of...