1. Observational cosmology
- Subjects
MASS MODELS ,PRIMORDIAL ABUNDANCE ,IA SUPERNOVAE ,CONSTANT ,LUMINOSITY FUNCTION ,PROBE WMAP OBSERVATIONS ,GRAVITATIONAL LENS B1608+656 ,SIZE REDSHIFT RELATION ,HUBBLE DEEP FIELD ,DARK ENERGY - Abstract
I discuss the classical cosmological tests, i.e., angular size-redshift, flux-redshift, and galaxy number counts, in the light of the cosmology prescribed by the interpretation of the CMB anisotropies. The discussion is somewhat of a primer for physicists, with emphasis upon the possible systematic uncertainties in the observations and their interpretation. Given the curious composition of the Universe inherent in the emerging cosmological model, I stress the value of searching for inconsistencies rather than concordance, and suggest that the prevailing mood of triumphalism in cosmology is premature.
- Published
- 2005