Origins Hubble a view to the edge of space  
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zeroing in

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.

A model of the Next Generation
Space Telescope

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.


Box o' Math: The Hubble Constant and the Age of the Universe

- Watch the video "Looking Deep" , from the Space Telescope Science Institute, to see more of what Hubble is showing us about the Big Bang.

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Origins:Exploratorium:Hubble

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