Telescopes and Detectors
Telescopes and the Discovery of the Universe
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Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation - WMAP
The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) was launched in June 2001 as a follow up to COBE. It completed its prime 2 year mission in September 2003.

WMAP has produced a detailed picture of the infant universe. Colors indicate "warmer" (red) and "cooler" (blue) spots. The data contains information about the first light that emerged in the universe and helps us to establish when the first stars formed and provides new clues about events that transpired in the first trillionth of a second of the universe.

The observatory is still returning data. Funding has been provided to extend the mission until 2009.

 NGC1566