WMAP stands for "Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe," which was a space mission conducted by NASA in collaboration with other organizations, most notably the Princeton University. It was designed to study the Cosmology of the universe and provided invaluable insights into the origin, age, and composition of the cosmos.
The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe was launched on June 30, 2001, with the primary objective of mapping the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation emitted shortly after the Big Bang. The CMB is the oldest light in the universe, and its detailed study provides crucial information about the evolution of the universe.
Using advanced technology and instruments, WMAP accurately measured the temperature fluctuations in the CMB across the sky. It produced a highly accurate and precise full-sky map of the CMB, revealing subtle variations in its temperature. These temperature fluctuations are crucial in understanding the initial conditions of the universe and the subsequent formation of galaxies and clusters.
WMAP's findings have significantly contributed to our understanding of the universe's age (approximately 13.77 billion years) and its composition (which consists of around 4.6% ordinary matter, 24% dark matter, and 71.4% dark energy). It has also helped confirm the inflationary theory of the universe's early expansion, where slight density fluctuations laid the foundation for galaxy formation.
Overall, WMAP has been instrumental in advancing our knowledge of cosmology, providing vital data for studying the origins and structure of the universe.
