The
Future
The accuracy
of our estimate for the age of the universe depends on the variety
and remoteness of our galactic data. If we could collect data
from even more distant galaxies than we can today, we can make
our calculation even more precise. Thanks to a number of exciting
technological advances, astronomers are on the verge of doing
just that.
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A
model of the Next Generation
Space Telescope
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The
Next
Generation Space Telescope
, NASA’s replacement for
Hubble, is planned to launch around 2009. Designed to collect
much dimmer light than Hubble can, this telescope will be powerful
enough to study the first galaxies that formed after the Big
Bang. In the meantime, conventional telescopes are also being
improved. An emerging technology known as "adaptive optics"
would correct the distorting effect of the atmosphere in ground-based
telescopes, potentially affording us unprecedented views into
deep space from right here at home.
Yet even
these remarkable new tools will not tell us
exactly
how
old the universe is--just offer an increasingly precise answer.
So when, if ever, will we find a value that we know is 100 percent
accurate? And what tools will help us find that value? While
we don’t have the answers, these questions do offer a glimpse
of the future of cosmology. We ain’t seen nothing yet.
