The term observable universe refers to .
A)the portion of the universe that can be seen by the naked eye
B)the portion of the universe that is not hidden from view by, for example, being below the horizon
C)that portion of the universe that we can see in principle, given the current age of the universe
D)that portion of the universe that we have so far photographed through telescopes

Question

The term observable universe refers to .
A)the portion of the universe that can be seen by the naked eye
B)the portion of the universe that is not hidden from view by, for example, being below the horizon
C)that portion of the universe that we can see in principle, given the current age of the universe
D)that portion of the universe that we have so far photographed through telescopes

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observable universe refers to that portion of the universe that we can see in principle, given the current age of the universe. Because light from distant objects has a finite speed, the most distant objects that can be observed are those whose light has had enough time to reach us since the beginning of the universe. This defines a boundary of the observable universe, beyond which we cannot see, at least not yet.

The Term Observable Universe Refers to