hi guys i dont really post much here but i have a few questions that i have always wondered??

1. is it true there are more stars in our galaxy alone, then there are grains of sand on earth??

2. if we were going light speed to the nearest star, how many years ( 365 days ) would it take to reach there?

3. is it true that when we see stars in the sky, we are seing them millions of years ago??

4. is the universe getting bigger, and will it 1 day collapse on its self?

thnx for any replies guys!!!

1. No. But there are probably more stars in the universe than sand grains on Earth. See here.

2. From the point of view of an observer on earth, about four years. From the traveller's point of view, no time at all.

3. Most naked-eye stars are within a few hundred light years of us, so we're seeing them as they were up to a few hundred years ago. The Andromeda Galaxy is the most distant naked-eye object for most Northern Hemisphere people: about 2.9 million light years away.

4. The mainstream consensus is yes, it's getting bigger, and no, it won't collapse in on itself.

Agree with above. I'd just add on number 4 that this is one of the most interesting questions in science today. Current theories suggest not only is the universe getting bigger, but it is getting bigger at a fast and faster rate. Do a google search for "dark energy" it's really quite fascinating.

__________________
Time cube is evil.

Inferno,
If you were an intelligent sentient lifeform in a different part
of our galaxy, but in a much higher gravity environment, and moving through
space at a much greater speed, would you perceive the expansion of the
universe as you now do?
Nokton.

About 8 minutes.

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lol

Outside of this solar system. . . Alpha Cent., is our nearest star. Its Four and a quarter light years from here. Its a Binary system with a companion star orbiting them. It, ( the companion star is not bright enough for us to see.)
Our sun Sol. is eight and a half minuets away from us at the speed of light.
There's a clown among us. . . .