* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe

Blobrana · L

Title: Analysis of WMAP 7-year Temperature Data: Astrophysics of the Galactic Haze
Authors: Davide Pietrobon, Krzysztof M. Gorski, James Bartlett, Anthony J. Banday, Gregory Dobler, Loris P. L. Colombo, Luca Pagano, Graca Rocha, Rajib Saha, Jeffrey B. Jewell, Sergi R. Hildebrandt, Hans Kristian Eriksen, Charles R. Lawrence

We analyse WMAP 7-year temperature data, jointly modelling the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and Galactic foreground emission. We use the Commander code based on Gibbs sampling. Thus, from the WMAP7 data, we derive simultaneously the CMB and Galactic components on scales larger than 1deg with sensitivity improved relative to previous work. We conduct a detailed study of the low-frequency foreground with particular focus on the "microwave haze" emission around the Galactic center. We demonstrate improved performance in quantifying the diffuse galactic emission when Haslam 408MHz data are included together with WMAP7, and the spinning and thermal dust emission is modelled jointly. We also address the question of whether the hypothetical galactic haze can be explained by a spatial variation of the synchrotron spectral index. The excess of emission around the Galactic center appears stable with respect to variations of the foreground model that we study. Our results demonstrate that the new galactic foreground component - the microwave haze - is indeed present.

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Blobrana · L

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) - also known as the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP), and Explorer 80 - is a spacecraft which measures differences in the temperature of the Big Bang's remnant radiant heat - the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation - across the full sky.
The WMAP spacecraft was launched on 30 June 2001, at 19:46:46 GDT, from Florida.
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Blobrana · L

NASA's WMAP Project Completes Satellite Operations

After nine years of scanning the sky, the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) space mission has concluded its observations of the cosmic microwave background, the oldest light in the universe. The spacecraft has not only given scientists their best look at this remnant glow, but also established the scientific model that describes the history and structure of the universe.
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