Globular clusters say the oldest stars are about 14 billion years old. Cepheid variables and the red shift of the most distant objects we see, combined with the Hubble constant value point to an age for the universe of 8 - 12 billion years old. There's a discrepancy of 2 billion years, but the missing time period isn't as big a deal as some would have us believe.
Time claims this apparent paradox is one of the biggest problems in our understanding of the universe. Time said in its March 6, 1995 cover story that there is an "age crisis," and that "Cosmology [is] in chaos." We may be in a period of new discovery, but the contradictions do not make up a predicament so large and serious as Time claims.
Perhaps an estimated range for the age of the universe of 8 - 14 billion years would reconcile observations of globular clusters, Cepheid variables, red shifted galaxies, and the value of the Hubble constant.
These seemingly contradictory values are in close enough agreement to send astronomers back into their laboratory -- the universe -- for some refinements to their measurements. We need to find more Cepheid variables in other areas of the sky; we need to study more globular clusters. The Hubble Space Telescope needs more time to observe.
Since HST can now see more clearly, it will continue to provide information that will help us resolve our current dilemma. We need more data, and it will come in time.
How old, exactly, is the universe? How big is the universe? Only time...will tell.
Now that you have explored the fascinating world of the Hubble Space Telescope, you have seen how astronomers are using the Telescope to observe a variety of celestial bodies. If you got a chance to observe through the HST, what would be your focus? What would especially interest you? We would be interesting in receiving your comments and ideas. The results will be posted in the Astronomy Gallery.
