Olbers’ Paradox
Olbers’ Paradox is the cosmological argument that the darkness of the night sky contradicts the hypothesis of an infinite and eternal universe uniformly filled with stars. If such a universe existed, every line of sight should eventually end on the surface of a star, making the night sky as bright as the surface of the Sun.
Core Concepts
- The Paradox: In an infinite, static, and eternal universe, the sky should be uniformly bright.
- Resolution: The darkness of the night sky implies the universe is not infinite in age or static. Key factors include:
- The finite age of the universe (light from distant stars has not yet reached us).
- The expansion of the universe (redshift reduces the energy of light from distant sources).
- The finite lifespan of stars.
Media & References
- Olbers’ Paradox: Why the Night Sky is Dark
- Source: The Action Lab
- Description: Explores why the night sky appears black despite the existence of an effectively infinite number of stars.
- Link: Olbers’ Paradox: Why the Night Sky is Dark