File:BigBangNoise.jpg

A Brief History of Background Radiation: Penzias and Wilson discovered the remnant afterglow from the Big Bang and were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery. COBE first discovered the patterns in the afterglow. WMAP will bring the patterns into much better focus to unveil a wealth of information about the history and fate of the universe.

(TL) Penzias and Wilson microwave receiver - 1965 (TR) Simulation of the sky viewed by Penzias and Wilson's microwave receiver - 1965 (ML) COBE Spacecraft, Painting - 1992 (MR) COBE's view of early universe- 1992 (BL) WMAP Spacecraft, Computer Rendering - 2001 (BR) Simulated WMAP view of early universe

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