When we look at the sky, we see a vast expanse of stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects. While the night sky can be awe-inspiring, it is important to note that the observable universe, which is the portion of the universe we can currently see or detect, is just a tiny fraction of the entire cosmos.
The true size and scale of the universe are difficult to comprehend due to its vastness. The observable universe is estimated to be about 93 billion light-years in diameter. This means that the light we receive from the most distant objects in the observable universe has traveled for approximately 13.8 billion years to reach us since the Big Bang, which is considered the beginning of our universe.
However, it is important to note that the observable universe represents only the region from which light has had enough time to reach us since the Big Bang. The actual size of the entire universe is still a topic of scientific investigation, and it is thought to be significantly larger than the observable universe.
To put the scale into perspective, imagine standing on a beach and looking out at the vast ocean. The portion of the ocean you can see from your vantage point represents the observable universe, but the ocean extends far beyond your field of view. Similarly, the universe is believed to extend far beyond what we can observe.
So, while the night sky can give us a glimpse of the grandeur and scale of the universe, comprehending its true size is a challenge due to its immense vastness, and it remains an ongoing area of study and exploration for scientists.