ASKAP detects 5 billion year old emission from galaxy - Sydney Morning Herald

[gary]

An AAP article in today's Sydney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/wa-radio-telescope-hears-ancient-signal-20150705-gi5s84.html)reports on the detection
of a five-billion-year-old hydrogen emission from galaxy B1740-517 in Ara
by six of the "ASKAP" Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescopes.



Article here -
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/wa-radio-telescope-hears-ancient-signal-20150705-gi5s84.html

[multiweb]

Very cool article. They say a 5th of the Universe's history. I thought the last estimate was 13 billion years old. Does this mean they've reviewed the number to be more like 20 or 25?

[gary]

Hi Marc,

The current estimate from the ESO Planck mission is 13.82 billion years old.

The earlier WMAP mission had estimated 13.73 +/- 0.12 billion years old.

(One thing that we know for sure is that the universe began on a Tuesday
around lunchtime.)

So the quote by Professor Sadler where she says they would be
"hunting for galaxies that are five to eight billion years old, a timespan
that represents a fifth of the universe's history" seems to be in error
unless we are interpreting what she meant to say incorrectly.

[barx1963]

I think what she meant was that the period from 8 to 5 Billion years ago is about 3 billion years, which is approximately 1/5th of the total age of the universe, if you round up the age to approx 15 billion years.

Malcolm

[gary]

Hi Malcolm,

Thanks and indeed that is what is meant.