CMB Images

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

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WMAP # 081031