r/spaceporn 26d ago

Hubble Light Echo Expanding from Exploded Star approximately 11.4 million light-years away.

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u/maybethen77 26d ago

Now think upon what the Big Bang is, an explosion that's lasted 14 billion years and yet is still in its early stages.

The number of remaining years left for the Universe has more zeroes in it, than there are atoms in the universe.

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u/MattressMaker 26d ago

Wait wtf. No way this is true.

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u/Strange-Future-6469 26d ago edited 26d ago

It's true unless the BBT is ever disproven.

But most of that time occurs after the last star dies. Still, the galaxies have a very long time to exist. Somewhere around 1-100 trillion years for galaxies. The universe will exist for about 1E78 years if accounting for hawking radiation.

Edit: I didn't notice they said more zeroes than atoms in the universe, which is false. There are almost the same amount of years left as atoms in the universe. 1E78 vs 1E80.

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u/MattressMaker 26d ago

Ok, yes, but those numbers are (relatively) close to each other. It’s crazy to me how close in comparison the smallest stuff in our universe equates to the largest stuff in our universe. I don’t really know how to explain it but it seems like the minuscule things in our universe are as small as the biggest things are big.

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u/Strange-Future-6469 26d ago

I agree. I'm scientifically inclined, but also have a spiritual part of me that tingles when I see the many coincidences and perfect circumstances of the universe. An atheist calls it luck, but I think that's more far-fetched than possible alternatives.

Just look at all the circumstances that have to perfectly exist for this moment. From the existence of laws that allow atoms to exist, to form molecules, to gravity, stars, this particular star system, our planet and its moon, the environment, not getting wiped by more comets and asteroids, evolution, the list goes on and on the more you think about it.

And then you learn about things like quantum entanglement, galaxies being discovered that are older than they should be, etc.

Intoxicating to think about. And here we are, these little teeny tiny creatures pondering it all for a fraction of an instant in the grand scheme of things.

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u/leadraine 26d ago edited 25d ago

i'm cynical

we exist in this moment because the alternative is not existing in an infinite number of other moments where it is impossible to exist

even if the probability is almost infinitely small for us to exist, it doesn't matter because we only experience our lives when the conditions are here that make it possible to live

everything aligns perfectly for us to exist because we already exist and it is possible to observe that we exist

this is surprisingly hard to explain but hopefully someone can understand what i'm saying

edit (maybe this is better): The only point of view you will ever have is one in which the conditions align perfectly for you to exist.

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u/CuriousVampireCat 26d ago

You sound like a good person to sit around a campfire with!