Whose calculations first explained why the night sky is dark despite countless stars?
Quick Answer
Heinrich Olbers’ name is attached to the classic paradox about a dark night sky. The resolution points to the finite age and expansion of the universe.
The Full Story
Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers is associated with Olbers’ paradox, the question of why the night sky is dark if the universe contains infinitely many stars. The paradox was understood much better in the 19th and 20th centuries, when astronomers recognized that the universe is finite in age and expanding. Light from very distant stars has not had enough time to fill the sky uniformly. The problem became an important clue in cosmology rather than a contradiction.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why a universe full of stars still has a dark sky"
Was this answer helpful?
Tap a reaction — it helps us pick what to cover next.