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How big is space? If you drive to Pluto in a car it will take 6,000 years

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22 May, 2025

Credit: Getty, Nasa

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Space doesn’t have a clear edge. The observable universe is vast, but what lies beyond it is still a mystery.

It’s (Almost) Endless

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We can see about 93 billion light-years across — that’s how far light has traveled since the Big Bang, considering the universe's expansion.

Observable Universe Size

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A light-year is about 9.5 trillion kilometers (5.9 trillion miles). So 93 billion of those? Mind-blowing.

1 Light-Year 

The observable universe contains around 2 trillion galaxies, each with millions or even billions of stars.

Billions of Galaxies

Scientists estimate there are over 100 sextillion (that’s 1 followed by 23 zeros) stars in the universe, with even more planets.

Endless Stars and Planets

The universe is getting bigger every second, as space itself stretches due to dark energy.

Still Expanding

All human space missions, including the Moon and Mars, have covered only a tiny fraction of space — like dipping a toe in an ocean.

A Tiny Speck