Photometry-based estimation of the total number of stars in the Universe

Appl Opt. 2015 Jul 20;54(21):6589-91. doi: 10.1364/AO.54.006589.

Abstract

A novel photometry-based estimation of the total number of stars in the Universe is presented. The estimation method is based on the energy conservation law and actual measurements of the extragalactic background light levels. By assuming that every radiated photon is kept within the Universe volume, i.e., by approximating the Universe as an integrating cavity without losses, the total number of stars in the Universe of about 6×1022 has been obtained.