Re:Olbers' paradox
by Sharlin on Sunday August 02, 2015 @05:43PM
(#9992596)
The energy absorbed by interstellar gas and dust doesn't just disappear, it's re-emitted at (mostly) infrared wavelengths. If there really were infinite stars in an eternal universe, everything would be heated to the same white-hot temperature, including the interstellar medium.
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Re:Olbers' paradox
by mangeletti on Sunday August 02, 2015 @06:28PM
(#9992734)
Think about what you're saying. In our current system, if you do not except infinity, then you are accepting that there is finite space for energy to escape to, which means that the lack of much visible light and infrared from distant stars available to Earthbound viewers implies that any distribution homogenous and similar to ours currently observable would result in similarly dark views from any vantage point.
This is a logical truth.