How much of the universe are we able to observe?

[dustin_archibald]

How much of the universe are we able to observe?

I think this is an important question since our understanding of the universe is based on what we are able to observe. If we are unable to observe a majority of the universe, how do we know that our work can make accurate predictions for the rest we have not observed?

[AntonioLao]

the radius of the visible (observable) universe is the distance that light been traveling for 14 billions years.

[Guille]

Th furthest object observed by human telescopes is: HCM6A which I can't remember what it is, but it's not a planet and it is 13 billion light years from here.

[AntonioLao]

the farthest object detected by radio telescope is a quasar, see definition at

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/Quasar.html

the news bulletin from Jet Propulsion Lab is the following

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.k...ar/quasar.html

quasars are high energy sources in the x-ray spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation. They could be a single galaxy or a cluster of galaxies or even a supercluster of clusters of galaxies. They are also believed to be the oldest objects in the visible universe.

[dustin_archibald]

So how much of the universe is that? Something like 75% or so?

[Guille]

So how much of the universe is that? Something like 75% or so?

I don't think so.

The objects we can observe are far, far away....(as Lucas stated)....but not so much. I believe that the objects we can observe aren't as far as the parts of the universe we can observe. Imagine a place twice as far as that quasar that Antonio gave, then, we probably don't have telescopes that are enough good to observe a quasar, or a planet, or any galactic/cosmic object. But we will be able of seeing the universe, the place or "space" there.

Thus, what we can observe of the universe might even be 60% maximum. The objects we can see are less far than 50%.

[AntonioLao]

So how much of the universe is that? Something like 75% or so?

it's supposed to only comprise 100% of the visible universe within the speed of light's travel distance. Beyond this distance, your guess is as good as anyone's guess about the size of the real universe. This is empirical evidence and not to be confused with mathematical evidence or proof.

[dustin_archibald]

it's supposed to only comprise 100% of the visible universe within the speed of light's travel distance. Beyond this distance, your guess is as good as anyone's guess about the size of the real universe.

Are you saying that we are able to observe 100% of the space between us (Earth) and the distance light travels at its defined speed? The distance isn't fixed, but we are limited by the technolgy we have to observe?

Or are you saying that the distance we can observe has a fixed distance and we have the ability to observe 100% of that distance?

When you refer to 'visible universe' do you mean all things that we can see (from our current position) or all things that have the ability to be seen by any entity?

[AntonioLao]

the definition of visible universe can be found at the following link

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/que...php?number=275