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ChrisARippel t1_j2kd97a wrote

I agree that we would not expect much change over human lifetimes.

Another problem, not yet mentioned, is that each time astronomers take a "picture" of the CMB, camera technology improves the resolution creating a much different picture. Improved resolution is easy to see. I don't think changes in the CMB between 1989 and 2013 would be easy to see.

Here are images from COBE (1989), WMAP (2001), Planck (2013).

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gubbygub t1_j2lcm5t wrote

is the JWST able to/going to take a shot of the CMB? would be neat to have it alongside the others

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gambloortoo t1_j2ledmv wrote

JWST is tuned to detect infrared light. Microwaves, the 'M' in CMB, are just too long of a wavelength for JWST unfortunately. It might be able to do a similar survey and find other data but it won't see the same CMB.

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ChrisARippel t1_j2lf4jo wrote

JWST infrared filters can't see the CMB microwave radiation.

  • JWST infrared filters range from 0.6 to 28.5 micrometers wavelength

  • CMB microwave radiation = 1.9 millimeters wavelength.

  • 1.9 millimeters = 1,900 micrometers

Sorry

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Human_Ad_793 t1_j2pfcmd wrote

The "light" emitted at the end of the "dark ages" occurred in an instant? 370,000 years after the big bang. Did that mean it happened "everywhere " at the same time? Also, since all other celestial light sources have their distances calculated by their red shift, what is the distance to the universe at that time? Thanks

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