1. Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) By Susan Creager April 20, 2006

2. Two theoretical principles of the Big Bang General Relativity The Cosmological Principal

3. General Relativity Gravity is not a field, but a distortion of space and time. This applies to bodies at motion as well as at rest. Its speed is the speed of light.

4. The Cosmological Principle Matter is distributed evenly when averaged over large areas.

5. Three theories of the shape of the universe

6. Observational Tests of the Big Bang Expansion of the Universe Abundance of the light elements H, He, Li The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

7. Cosmic Background Radiation – the radiant heat left over from the Big Bang. It formed a few thousand years after the Big Bang before stars and galaxies.

8. Why Study CMBR?

9. Visible Stars 10-100 years ago

10. Andromeda Galaxy 2.5 million years ago

11. Hubble Telescope A few billion years ago

12. What is in the universe? Radiation – massless or nearly massless particles that travel at the speed of light. These include photons and neutrinos. Baryonic matter – protons, neutrons, and electrons Dark matter – not observed, but suspected Dark energy – the only form of matter that can cause the universe to speed up

13. Composition of the Universe

14. Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) 3.8 x 5 meters 840 Kg Its purpose is to map the temperature fluctuations of the CMBR.

15. WMAP – launched in June 2001 Launched in 2001, it was originally meant to be a 27 month mission. NASA later extended its time frame.

16. Original Logo – Wilkinson was added preceding MAP to honor Dr. David Wilkinson, a member of the team and a pioneer in cosmic background radiation.

20. Anisotropy Fluctuations in cosmic background radiation. CMBR is very cold – only 2.725 degrees above absolute zero. Fluctuations may range very slightly from 2.7251 and 2.7249 degrees in one portion of the sky.

21. Red areas are warmer Blue areas are cooler White lines show “polarization” direction of old light

22. Early cosmic background radiation Material is gravitationally pulling together Stars are forming Galaxies are forming The present sky

23. References http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkinson_Micr owave_Anisotropy_Probehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkinson_Micr owave_Anisotropy_Probe http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/ M/Microwave_Anisotropy_Probe.htmlhttp://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/ M/Microwave_Anisotropy_Probe.html