Size comparison of earth and the universe
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Earth Size and Universe Size: Physical Scale Comparison
Earth’s Size: Radius and Mass
The Earth has a radius of about 6.4 × 10^6 meters (or 6,400 kilometers), as determined by both modern physical calculations and historical geometric methods. Its mass is approximately 6 × 10^27 grams 123. These values are well-established and have been confirmed through various scientific approaches, including relativistic matter wave analysis and classical geometry 123.
Observable Universe: Radius, Mass, and Age
In contrast, the observable universe is vastly larger. The radius of the observable universe is estimated using cosmological models and the Hubble Law, resulting in a value of about 4.4 × 10^26 meters (or roughly 46 billion light-years) 46. The total mass of the universe is estimated to be around 5.5 × 10^53 kilograms, with an average mass density of about 6 × 10^-26 kg/m^3 . The age of the universe is calculated to be approximately 13.7 billion years, with some estimates ranging from 12.1 to 15.6 billion years depending on the value of the Hubble constant used .
Size Comparison: Earth vs. Universe
The Earth is minuscule compared to the universe. The Earth’s radius (6.4 × 10^6 meters) is dwarfed by the universe’s radius (4.4 × 10^26 meters), making the universe about 10^20 times larger in radius than the Earth 1246. This means that if the Earth were the size of a marble, the observable universe would be larger than the entire solar system by many orders of magnitude.
Historical and Conceptual Perspectives
Historically, humans once believed the Earth was central and comparable in size to the universe, but scientific advancements have shown that the Earth is just a tiny part of a much larger cosmos . Early methods, such as those by Eratosthenes and Aristarchus, helped measure the Earth and Moon, laying the groundwork for understanding our place in the universe . Philosophical debates, like those discussed by Andre Tacquet, also explored how the size of stars and the universe relate to the Earth’s size, especially in the context of heliocentric and geocentric models .
Conclusion
The Earth is extremely small compared to the observable universe, with a radius about 10^20 times smaller. Modern science, using both classical and relativistic methods, has provided precise measurements of both the Earth and the universe, highlighting the vast difference in scale between our planet and the cosmos as a whole 12346. This understanding underscores the Earth’s tiny place within the immense universe.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic