Starlight problem

The Starlight Problem is an argument in favour of a universe with a long history - many billions of years - as opposed to the six thousand year age many creationists interpret based on the Genesis narrative.

The expansion rate of the universe can be calculated from the Hubble Constant, which was verified using redshift measurements, the most current study found the universe to be approximately 156 billion light years wide . The age of the universe is currently estimated to be 13.7 billion years, this means that space itself can expand faster than the speed of light.

Within our own galaxy, and even within our galaxy's local group, the expansion of the universe can be factored out since gravity holds this superstructure together. Parallax, spectroscopic (using redshift, which is still usable at even greater distances) and Cepheid measuring techniques can all be used within the local group which has been measured to be about 46 million light years in diameter.

Using parallax calculations, which only rely on basic geometry, the milky way galaxy alone can be directly observed to have a diameter of approximately 80-100,000 light years. Calculations based on the observed brightness of supernovas of known energy output can determine the distance to more distant objects. The most distant object known is a star cluster approximately 47 billion light years distant, observed by the Hubble telescope using gravitational lensing.

Several solutions have been proposed by creationists to explain how a young universe may be reconciled with these observations. Some of these may be viewed on Debate:If the universe is young and it takes light millions of years to reach us from far off stars, how can we see them?

Young Earth Creationist View Regarding Starlight

In regards to the question of how one can see starlight from millions of light years away, young earth creationists scientists commonly mention several things. First, these scientists assert that the Big Bang Theory has a star light-travel time problem and cite the work of Dr. Charles W. Misner. Secondly, creationist Barry Setterfield has proposed that the speed of light was faster in the past. Thirdly, the work of young earth creationist scientist Dr. John Hartnett proposes an alternative, creationist view, by theorizing the Earth was trapped in a time-dilation field caused by extremely strong gravitation during the first few days of creation, from Earth's point of view, while billions of years passed for the rest of the universe. He attributes the field, it's removal and the continued balance in our solar system (after the field was removed) to divine intervention.