The Grand Scale of the Universe
Age
13.8 Billion Years
Size
93 Billion Light-Years
Speed of Light
299,792 km/s
What is the Universe Made Of?
Our universe is mostly invisible. Ordinary matter — everything we see — makes up just a tiny fraction.
A Deeper Look
Dark Energy
Making up about 68% of the cosmos, dark energy drives the accelerated expansion of the universe. Its nature remains one of the biggest mysteries in physics.
Dark Matter
About 27% of the universe is composed of dark matter, which does not emit light but exerts gravity. It holds galaxies together like an invisible scaffolding.
Normal Matter
Just 5% of the universe is ordinary matter — stars, planets, people. The stuff we study directly.
Speculative Frontiers
Concepts like multiverses and extra dimensions suggest the cosmos may be far stranger than our current models reveal.