| Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 1988. 26:
631-86
Copyright © 1988 by Annual Reviews. All rights
reserved
|
10. LOOK TO THE FUTURE
New observational data expected over the next 5 to 10 years will
clarify the nature and properties of the large-scale structure. Some
of these observations are listed below:
- Extensive redshift surveys of galaxies over large areas of the sky.
These surveys will reveal the shape, type, and extent of structures
and void; in the galaxy distribution.
- Automated deep surveys of clusters of galaxies, including complete
samples of X-ray clusters. These surveys will be used to trace the
largest scale structures, as discussed in this article.
- Extensive mapping of the velocity field around us, to larger
scales, using various distance indicators.
- Large samples of high-redshift galaxies, quasars, and quasars
absorption lines. These will be available and used as tracers of
structure at high redshifts, and the information obtained will help
unravel the evolution of structure with time.
- Very precise measurements of the fluctuations in the microwave
background radiation,
T / T. These
should either detect some anisotropy
on large scales or provide a theory-challenging strong limit of
isotropy.
The expected observational advances will be of fundamental
importance for our understanding of the formation of galaxies and
structure in the Universe. Which of the current models will survive,
or which new models will be initiated as a result of the new
observations, cannot be predicted with assurance at this time.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am grateful to A. Dekel, J.P. Ostriker, P.J.E. Peebles, H.J. Rood,
D. Schramm, and A. Szalay for helpful discussions on the topic of
this paper. I also express special gratitude to Ray Soneira for the
many stimulating and pleasant discussions we had during our
collaboration.