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Night Lights - Light Nights (Posted on 2018-07-24) Difficulty: 2 of 5
In our current best model, the Universe is infinite and ever expanding. In this model, it is thought that every line of sight eventually ends at the photosphere (outermost visible layer) of a star. If so, it may be argued that the night sky should be brilliant - as bright as a typical star. The fact that the night is dark is known as Olbers' Paradox.

Here are some explanations:

1) Light dilutes in strength as distance^2.
2) The dust between the stars blocks the light.
3) The expanding Universe "reddens" the starlight to longer wavelengths, since space expands as the light waves pass through it.

Why are all of these wrong or incomplete? E.g., for number 3, why then is the night sky not brilliant at long wavelengths?

What is the most complete explanation, and what poet found the answer?

See The Solution Submitted by Steven Lord    
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  Subject Author Date
Cosmological PrincipleSteven Lord2018-09-24 20:32:40
Some ThoughtsEppur si muovebroll2018-07-24 22:36:34
Some Thoughtsmy versionCharlie2018-07-24 10:14:27
my attemptDaniel2018-07-24 07:48:04
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