Olbers’ paradox
Olbers’ paradox is the argument that the darkness of the night sky conflicts with the assumption of an infinite and eternal static universe. The paradox is commonly attributed to the German amateur astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers, who described it in 1823. Edward Robert Harrison argues that the first to set out a satisfactory resolution of the paradox was Lord Kelvin.
About Olbers’ paradox in brief
Olbers’ paradox is the argument that the darkness of the night sky conflicts with the assumption of an infinite and eternal static universe. The paradox is commonly attributed to the German amateur astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers, who described it in 1823. Edward Robert Harrison argues that the first to set out a satisfactory resolution of the paradox was Lord Kelvin, in a little known 1901 paper. Edgar Allan Poe suggested that the finite size of the universe resolves the apparent paradox. More specifically, because the universe is finitely old and the sky would not be infinitely bright, every point in the sky in the universe would still be like the surface of a star, Harrison argues. He also argues that it is still possible for the paradox to hold in a finite universe, though the sky wouldn’t be as bright as it would be if it was infinite and static. The author’s book, Darkness at Night: A Riddle of the Universe, is published by Simon & Schuster, priced £16.99 (with free UK p&p). For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details.
In the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. In the UK call the heliocentric heliocentre on 0800 0800 90 90 or visit www. helicocentre.org.uk. For confidential. support in the United States call the national suicide prevention line on 1 (800) 909090 or visit the National suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1(800) 709090, or visit www.suicidesociety.org For confidential support, call the UK Samaritans on 0845 90 90 100 or visit http:// www. Samaritans.co.uk/pages/s/dark-night-sky-paradox-and-solution-for-the-world-of-astrophysics-and others-who-have-suffered-in-the past and-are-still-suffering-in the world-today and suffering in the world now. For. confidential support on suicide matters call the Samaritans on 08457 90909090,. For confidential help in the US call the Lifeline on 0800 809090.
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This page is based on the article Olbers’ paradox published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 15, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
