Flat, closed and open universes. Artwork showing the geometrical curvatures of a 'flat' (left), 'closed' (centre) and 'open' (right) universe. The gal

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Flat, closed and open universes. Artwork showing the geometrical curvatures of a 'flat' (left), 'closed' (centre) and 'open' (right) universe. The galaxies are shown on a curved grid, which represents the overall geometry of the universe. The universes have planar, spherical and saddle curvatures respectively. The curvature of a universe is determined by the amount and density of matter and energy. In an open universe, the amount of matter is insufficient to prevent the universe expanding forever. In a closed universe, there is enough matter to halt the expansion, followed by a contraction to a Big Crunch. In a flat universe, the amount of matter has a critical value between these two extremes.

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Size: 7898px × 3099px
Photo credit: © MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 4-, 4-dimensional, artwork, closed, computer, cosmological, cosmology, curvature, curved, dimensional, elliptic, flat, galaxies, galaxy, geometrical, geometry, hyperbolic, hypersphere, illustration, open, physical, physics, planar, plane, saddle, shape, space, space-time, spacetime, sphere, spherical, time, trio, universe