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 ?

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

Cosmological models -- “world views”

How we perceive our Universe and our relation to it

Historical models -- geocentric

heliocentric

galactocentric

By mid 20th century -- 3 models or theories

Big Bang -- Father LeMaitre, George Gamow

Oscillating Universe

Steady State -- Fred Hoyle

Early 21st century – Big Bang cosmology firmly established

3 degree background radiation

or cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB)

Nobel Prize 1978

Subsequent work -- numerous measurements, balloon, satellites

COBE

WMAP

The Big Bang -- the standard model -- 13 – 14 x 109 yrs

The Early Universe – the Hubble Deep Field (HDF)

Deepest exposure with HST 10 consecutive days , 342 exposures,

Reaching > 30th mag

Small irregular galaxies - among first objects

Glow from first stars ?

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

Type Ia supernovae, the accelerating Universe and dark energy

Nobel Prize 2011

Saul Perlmutter Brian Schmidt

Adam Reiss

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 ?