1. Cosmology -- the Origin and Structure of the Universe
Cosmological Principle – the Universe appears the same from all directions .
There is no preferred location.
(The physical laws apply to the whole Universe).
Is there a preferred time ?

2. The Distance – Redshift Relation (Hubble Law)
The Distribution of Matter – Large Scale Structure
Implications of the finite velocity of light
Consequences of star birth and death

3. Cosmological models -- “world views”
How we perceive our Universe and our relation to it
Historical models geocentric
heliocentric
galactocentric
By mid 20th century models or theories
Big Bang -- Father LeMaitre, George Gamow
Oscillating Universe
Steady State -- Fred Hoyle
Early 21st century – Big Bang cosmology firmly established

4. 3 degree background radiation
or cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB)
Nobel Prize 1978

5. Subsequent work -- numerous measurements, balloon, satellites
COBE
WMAP

6. The Big Bang -- the standard model -- ~14 x 109 yrs

7. The Early Universe – the Hubble Deep Field (HDF)
Deepest exposure with HST 10 consecutive days , 342 exposures,
Reaching > 30th mag

9. Small irregular galaxies - among first objects
Glow from first stars ?

10. Other considerations -- the critical density of matter, finite or infinite ? and the shape of space

11. Type Ia supernovae, the accelerating Universe and dark energy
Nobel Prize 2011
Saul Perlmutter
Brian Schmidt
Adam Reiss

13. Recent development --- detection of gravity waves via polarization in the CMB BICEP2 experiment (2014)
Inflation --- theory – proposed to explain the size and flatness of space, existence of inhomogeneities that led to star and galaxy formation
The new results support/confirm inflation model

14. At the beginning of the 21st century:
The Universe began in a superdense state; it is flat, expanding, the expansion is accelerating, it is dominated by dark energy, and will expand forever.
What about the future ?