COBE Hotspots: The Oldest Structures Known
Explanation:
Above are two
microwave images of the sky, looking north
and south of
our galaxy's equator, based on
data from NASA's COBE satellite.
After computer processing to remove contributions from nearby objects
and the
effects of the earth's motion,
they show "spots".
These
spots are the oldest structures known - probably the oldest
structures humanity will ever know. They are also the most distant. As our
universe expanded and cooled, conglomerations of mass formed - these are
some of the first. They confirm that only a million years after the
big-bang
- which occurred roughly
15 billion years
ago - parts of the
universe
were visibly hotter than other parts. By
studying the size and distribution of the spots found with
COBE and
future missions,
astronomers hope to learn what matter and processes caused the
spots to form - and hence determine the
composition,
density,
and
future of
our universe.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
