We're looking a little wide

[cjbuchanan]

If you've ever wondered how big the universe is, you're not alone. Astronomers have long pondered this, too, and they've had a hard time figuring it out. Now an estimate has been made, and it's a whopper.

The universe is at least 156 billion light-years wide.

In the new study, researchers examined primordial radiation imprinted on the cosmos. Among their conclusions is that it is less likely that there is some crazy cosmic "hall of mirrors" that would cause one object to be visible in two locations. And they've ruled out the idea that we could peer deep into space and time and see our own planet in its youth.

More at: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/space/universemeasuredwere156billionlightyearswide

To put that into DU prospective, the US budget deficit is $3.83 for every light year the universe is wide.

[Servo300]

1. So what is there

beyond these 156 billion light years?

[cjbuchanan]

2. Osama

That's why we can't find him.

;)

[Servo300]

3. Hahahah!

Well, if not I bet Stephen Hawking would have the answer.

[demnan]

4. Really?

and I just thought that was my hips.

[denverbill]

5. That doesn't make sense.

Assuming we are dead center in the galaxy, that means the furthest objects are still 78 billion light-years away. But the universe has only existed for what 40 billion years?

Since the universe began from a single point according to the big bang, and nothing can travel faster than light, either the universe is at least 78 billion years old or their numbers are off.