Does anyone believe that outer space is really infinite?
90394
The current theories have predicted how large spacetime is, and many Astrophysicists are now working on finding who is beyond our universe. \n\nSo no, space is not infinite in the sense that most people think of. Outside of our universe is still a mystery, but keep in mind that there is not three demensional space outside of our universe, and no time, either.
820808
The concept of "beyond space" is flawed; space-time has no beyond for there to be anything in at all. Our limited perception of the stuff around us in three dimensions leads us to imagine the universe or even all of space as some giant sphere or disc of matter floating in space, but really, space and time being the same thing mean that our universe and all within it is everything we can perceive, full stop. Ergo, there is no inside to be outside of. \n\neither that or its turtles all the way down :-)
686202
Universe theories talk about a finite and unlimited Universe. The Universe is unlimited because it has no boundaries. There is no edge, no end where a spaceship would have to stop. See it as a tiny bug walking on the surface of a big balloon. The ballon has a finite dimension, but the bug will never find the end, so it is unlimited from the bug's point of view.\nSo, the Universe can be expanding or contracting or staying the same size. This is a very important question to answer in modern astronomy. Latest studies say that it is expanding, but it has not been totally proved.\nAnd where it is expanding? The Universe is creating more space and time where there is nothing.
689891
it's called infinite.\nIt never began and it will never end it always has been and since it was thought up by man it's infinitivity can't be described because it's not there to the universe bu only to us since everything to us has a begining and an end but the universe will always be. this may sound onfusing but that's because the thought of infinity and the universe and time is only slightly comprehendable to the human minde, anything past 9 planets, 1 sun and space is just...confusing!
1025562
My opinion through many meditative thoughts:\n\nI believe our universe exists as a point in what you call 'the void'. A point having the geometric meaning of no volume, dimensionless.\n\nI believe what you are considering the void is what I call space. Our universe is what we can view, touch and explain through science we have developed. Space on the other hand is an infinitely dimensional medium, in which our universe was born. \n\nOur universe is nothing more than a 'disturbance' in space, and in space our universe exists as a point. This point is a fraction of infinity, yet everything is a fraction of infinity. So in the humble realization that we are nothing (a fraction of infinity), we realize we are equal to everything we can fathom, as it too is a fraction of infinity no matter how large.\n\nSo, through the realization that we are nothing comes the discovery that we can be equal to as much as we can fathom. \n\nI believe this means everything that makes up the universe and space has its own existence or presence known to space and must exist.  This existence holds true for our universe and what we would consider other universes. The disappearance, or non-existance of any defined object and its position in space no matter how small, down to a point, would truly have mind boggling consequences. \n\nIf time travel is possible than there must be alternate universes, as we know it.  It is a deadening thought to ponder.  Almost pointless until we figure out gravity, which I believe will open the door to all other understandings.
55707
You get into Quantum Theory with your intrigue and there is no evidence to support that the universe is not infinate.\n\nHOWEVER, according to the Big Bang theory there was nothing and then there was something in a centralized location millions (billions) of years ago. At the speed that the universe is spreading outwards there has to be an end to it and scientists are trying to get telescopes powerful enough to see to the beginning of time.\n\nWhat lays on the other side? Nobody knows.
394306
There is no answer to this question within the context of which it is asked.  The theory that the universe is finite but boundaryless is groundless at best having been built from many accepted, yet untried, pre-existing theories of the universe.  \n\nThis theory should be more approprately viewed as the culmination of everything we do not know about the universe, and is tied entirely to a singular perspective. Yet it is accepted as fact by many within the scientific community and elsewhere.\n\nBased on our current technological capabilities and observations of the universe we have no business asking science this type of question.  In turn it is irresponsible of science to supply any type of response with conviction and confidence.  \n\nTheories such as this one are no different than the assertions of any religion;  they require an enormous amount of faith to be accepted.\n\nBottom line:  your guess is just as good as anyone's.
789663
well, it does not have to be INFINTE, it can just be UNLIMITED.\n\nwhat's the difference?\n\nwell, on the surface of say, Mars, you or I, in a rover, could walk forever and never hit a limit.  But Mars is clearly not infinite.
14387
"There is disagreement over whether the Universe is finite or infinite in spatial extent and volume.\n\n"However, the observable Universe, consisting of all locations that could have affected us since the Big Bang given the finite speed of light, is certainly finite. The edge of the cosmic light horizon is 13.7 billion light years (4.19 gpc) distant. The present distance (comoving distance) to the edge of the observable Universe is larger, since the Universe has been expanding; it is estimated to be about 78 billion light years (7.8 × 1010 light years, or 7.4 × 1023 km). This would make the comoving volume, of the known Universe, equal to 1.9 × 1033 cubic light years (assuming this region is perfectly spherical). The observable Universe contains about 7 × 1022 stars, organized in about 100 billion galaxies, which themselves form clusters and superclusters. The number of galaxies may be even larger, based on the Hubble Deep Field observed with the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble Space Telescope discovered galaxies such as Abell 1835 IR1916, which are over 13 billion light years from Earth.\n\n"Both popular and professional research articles in cosmology often use the term "Universe" when they really mean "observable Universe". This is because unobservable physical phenomena are scientifically irrelevant; that is, they cannot affect any events that we can perceive. See also Causality (physics).\n\nWe live in the centre of the Universe that we observe, in apparent contradiction to the Copernican principle which says that the Universe is more or less uniform and it has no distinguished centre. This is simply because light does not travel infinitely fast, and we make observations of the past. As we look further and further away, we see things from epochs (times) closer and closer to the limit of time, which equals zero, according to the Big bang model. Since light travels at the same speed in any direction towards us, it is reasonable to suggest that we live at the center of our observable Universe."
36543
As I understand it, the universe is in fact finite.  However, it's expansion is continuous and progresses at such a rate that we can not, with current technology, move beyond to see the end.
484105
Yes I do. Think of how big we can honestly say we know that space is, then think a million times that size. There are probably millions of different universes out there.
40749
Sorry, as Braxton points out, the size to the edge of the observable universe is 78 billion light years due to the expansion of the universe (same source as the other guy used, Wikipedia) There is much debate as to whether or not the universe is infinite, but many scientists believe that the universe is indeed finite in size.\n\nBY THE WAY: I find it comically amusing how two people can cite the same source, yet somehow I'm the wrong one.  Oh well ;)
392780
We are told that the universe is, effectively , infinitely large. We are also told that the universe contains an indeterminate number of planets, also effectively an infinite number.\n\nIf you now consider the probability of something (anything) occurring. How about I give you odds of 100 million to one on their being alien life forms somewhere out there?\n\nNow, that's pretty remote odds, but if you consider that there are an infinite number of chances of it occurring, suddenly you have to consider those odds not remote,but pretty much a certainty!
311305
how do you understand anything?  We can't understand everything there are things beyond our comprehension.  Try to think about this, does space end?  Is it infinte?  what is infinite?  You kno?
954573
Many  astronomers think that the Universe is infinite. See, this\nwebsite for the complete explanations.
1103661
yups thats something even i was wondering for quite some time, but then i thought like on earth , its so big seems to be endless\n\nbut then the end you think has a wall and even a wall has another side to it, there surelyis  something on the other side\n\nso for sure we never wou;ld be able to describe it but surely the universe the galaxy is endless\n\nso keep your thinking hat on and just start this journey of imagination of what all could be there.....................a sun,,,,,,,,,,ocean,.,...........aliens with PS1001..........................or an church for an alein god.................
657544
Isn't the universe infinite? How can it have a definite radius or circumference if it's infinite?