Astronomy Jargon 101: Cosmic Microwave Background – Universe Today
[ad_1]
In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! Get a good look at today’s topic: the cosmic microwave background!
The cosmic microwave background, or CMB, is all around you. Indeed, it’s by far the brightest object in the entire universe, responsible for over 99% of all photons.
And it’s a baby picture of the universe.
When our cosmos was very young, it was much smaller, hotter, and denser than it is today. Indeed it was so hot and dense that all the matter in the universe was a plasma, with the electrons ripped out of atoms and constantly mixed up with the high-energy radiation that soaked the universe at the time.
But when our universe was about 380,000 years old, it cooled to the point that the electrons could settle into their little atomic homes, turning our cosmos into a neutral gas of hydrogen and helium. That left all the radiation hanging around with nothing to do, so off it went.
At the time it was released, that radiation was literally white-hot. But as the ages passed, our universe expanded. That radiation cooled, and its wavelength stretched. All the way down to where it today, 13.8 billion years later, in the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The CMB was discovered accidentally in the 1960’s once we finally developed sensitive microwave detectors. It confirms that the general story of the big bang is accurate; there are no other theories of cosmology that can explain its existence.
Today, astronomers work with detectors on the ground and in space to make accurate maps of the CMB. The latest all-sky map comes courtesy of the Planck telescope, which was a joint venture between NASA and the ESA. Those maps reveal tiny little temperature differences, no bigger than one part in a million.
Those temperature differences tell us what the universe was like billions of years ago. The temperature differences tell us that the universe wasn’t perfectly uniform – there were also tiny differences in density. Those little seeds would eventually grow up to become galaxies, groups, and clusters…the largest structures in the universe today.
[ad_2]
Original Post
I believe this site has some rattling superb info for everyone :D. “The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.” by Edith Sitwell.
You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the paintings you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. At all times follow your heart. “Everyone has his day and some days last longer than others.” by Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill.
You have remarked very interesting points! ps nice internet site.
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Great work!
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later on. Cheers
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.
Dead indited written content, Really enjoyed reading.
You are my inhalation, I possess few web logs and occasionally run out from to brand.
Wow! Thank you! I permanently needed to write on my website something like that. Can I include a part of your post to my blog?
I have to get across my admiration for your generosity giving support to people that require assistance with in this matter. Your personal commitment to getting the solution across had become particularly advantageous and have truly enabled those much like me to reach their desired goals. Your own warm and friendly guidelines entails a great deal a person like me and a whole lot more to my office workers. Best wishes; from each one of us.
I¦ve recently started a web site, the info you provide on this website has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.
Normally I don’t learn post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, quite nice article.
I’m very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
I gotta favorite this website it seems very helpful very beneficial
Good write-up, I am regular visitor of one¦s site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
Well I sincerely liked studying it. This tip provided by you is very constructive for accurate planning.
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what website owners wrote but this site is real user pleasant! .
Would love to incessantly get updated great blog! .
What Is Puravive? Before we delve into the various facets of the supplement, let’s start with the most important
Lottery Defeater Software? Lottery Defeater is a software application created to help people win lotteries
Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it very difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Many thanks
Would you be serious about exchanging links?
I would like to express thanks to the writer just for rescuing me from such a condition. Right after researching throughout the online world and obtaining tricks which are not beneficial, I figured my life was over. Being alive minus the solutions to the issues you have resolved as a result of your good post is a critical case, and the ones that would have in a wrong way affected my career if I had not encountered your web blog. The ability and kindness in handling the whole lot was invaluable. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t encountered such a point like this. I can at this time relish my future. Thank you so much for this high quality and amazing guide. I won’t think twice to recommend your site to anybody who should get recommendations about this subject matter.