An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The future evolution of the → Universe which is a subject of study in → cosmology. The ultimate fate of the Universe can be explored using → general relativity.
And since there is more than one possible solution to the equations of general relativity, there is more than one possible ultimate fate of the Universe. Moreover, the fate will depend on three factors: the Universe’s overall shape or → geometry, its → dark energy content, and the → equation of state parameter. See also: → oscillating Universe, → Big Rip, → Big Crunch, → Big Freeze, → heat death.

See also: → ultimate; → Universe.