Abstract 9616338 Piccirillo The relict thermal cosmic microwave background radiation left over from the big bang carries the only information that is available on the distribution of matter in the very early universe. This award is for the US portion of a larger international (France, Italy and the US) collaboration which will measure the anisotropy of the CMBR from the new French/Italian station on Dome C in Antarctica (Concordia Station). This is one of the highest and coldest sites presently occupied in Antarctica. Because of the extreme cold there is very little water vapor in the atmosphere, and that means that it is likely to be a superb place from which to make CMBA anisotropy measurements. Evaluation of the site for future use is also a major goal of this project. ***
