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Wizardsblade
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Does anyone know what shape the universe is? I.e. a sphere, or an eliptical sphere? and is that the observed shape of the shape after relativity calculation?
jhe1984 said:It doesn't seem like, from a topological perspective, we'd be able to differentiate a smooth, spherically shaped universe from a smooth, flat universe.
I understand the bit about the effect of the cosmological constant, but what perplexes me is why we think the universe is flat versus spherical (although I admit I have no idea what a beyond-3d sphere would look like), especially if there are long distance curves.
How is this different from a purely topologic view of the Earth - where it can be drawn either flat or on a globe, but the spherical globe is the actual shape?
The shape of the known universe is thought to be flat, based on observations and measurements made by the Planck space telescope. This means that the universe has a constant curvature and will continue to expand forever.
Scientists have used various methods such as cosmic microwave background radiation, supernova observations, and galaxy mapping to determine the shape of the universe. These methods provide evidence for a flat universe.
According to the current understanding, the shape of the universe is the same everywhere. However, the distribution of matter and energy may vary in different regions, leading to differences in the observed structures.
Other proposed shapes for the universe include a closed universe, which curves back on itself like a sphere, and an open universe, which has a negative curvature and will continue to expand forever at an increasing rate.
The shape of the universe is believed to be constant, but it is possible that it could change in the distant future due to the effects of dark energy. However, this is still a topic of ongoing research and debate among scientists.