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CMB Images

Images > CMB Images > CMB History

Review of CMB Discovery
CMB History

A Brief History of Background Radiation Discovery
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- a Four-year COBE map
(BL) WMAP Spacecraft, Computer Rendering
(BR) Three-year WMAP view of early universe

Credit: NASA / WMAP Science Team

Available formats:
White Background
160 x 90 JPG (3 KB)
320 x 245 JPG(17 KB)
1500 x 1150 JPG (303 KB)
3000 x 2300 JPG (1.64 MB)

Black Background
160 x 90 JPG (4 KB)
320 x 245 JPG(18 KB)
1500 x 1150 JPG (293 KB)
3000 x 2300 JPG (1.55 MB)

WMAP # 081031

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