Since ancient times, we've looked into the
night skies and wondered: how far do the stars
stretch out into space? And what's beyond
them? In modern times, we built giant telescopes
that have allowed us to cast our gaze deep
into the universe.
Astronomers have been able to look back to
near the time of its birth. They've reconstructed
the course of cosmic history in astonishing
detail. From intensive computer modeling,
and myriad close observations, scientists
have uncovered found important clues to its
ongoing evolution.
Many now conclude that what we can see, the
stars and galaxies on out to the limits of
our vision, may represent only a tiny fraction
of all there is.
Does the universe go on forever? And where
do we fit within it? How would the great thinkers
have wrapped their brains around the far-out
ideas on today's cutting edge?