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Back A simulation of what the Cosmic Microwave Background sky will look like to Planck

A simulation of what the Cosmic Microwave Background sky will look like to Planck


Date: 26 April 2000
Satellite: Planck
Depicts: Simulated view of CMB by Planck
Copyright: ESA

The Cosmic Microwave Background comes from everywhere with (almost) the same intensity. This was confirmed by the COBE satellite, which measured (almost) the same temperature of 2.7 degree Kelvin everywhere on the sky. However, the very existence of other galaxies points to the fact that there should be very small changes in the measured 'temperature' of the CMB. These changes, or fluctuations, would have provided the seeds for the formation of the galaxies that we see today. Planck will be able to measure these tiny fluctuations. Indeed it will be able to distinguish temperature differences of 5 millionths of a degree!
Last Update: 1 September 2019
19-Feb-2026 00:12 UT

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