The Age of the Universe | Nature

ABSTRACT ONE of the most important problems of present-day astronomy is that of the age of the universe, and one of the most important pieces of evidence is provided by the orbits of binary

stars. The ages which need to be seriously considered fall into two groups; the first is that of the so-called long time scale, which is of the order of 1013 years, the time the stars would

need to have reached their present condition by annihilation of their substance; the second is that of the short time scale—which is of the order of 1010 or 1011 years, the time needed for

the universe to have expanded from small beginnings to its present size. The motions of the stars ought to provide a means of deciding between the two. For dynamical discussion shows that

with the long time scale both the linear motions of single stars and the orbital motions of visual binaries ought to show a reasonably good approximation to equipartition of energy; the

short time scale, on the other hand, gives nothing like enough time for such an approximation to be established. Thus if the motions of the stars are found to show any marked approximation

to equipartition of energy, it is exceedingly difficult to do other than decide in favour of the long time scale. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of

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AND DISPERSAL FROM THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF STELLAR CLOCKS Article 23 November 2023 UNIVERSALITY IN THE RANDOM WALK STRUCTURE FUNCTION OF LUMINOUS QUASI-STELLAR OBJECTS Article 02 February

2023 CHRONOLOGICALLY DATING THE EARLY ASSEMBLY OF THE MILKY WAY Article 17 May 2021 AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Dorking J. H. JEANS Authors * J. H. JEANS View author

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Universe. _Nature_ 136, 432 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136432a0 Download citation * Issue Date: 14 September 1935 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136432a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you

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