CMB anisotropy experiments

Anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) encode information ab out the evolution and development of the universe. Quality observations of CMB anisotropies can provide a very strong test of cosmological models and provide high precision determination of major cosmological parameters. This paper provides a review of the COBE DMR results, the current status of the measurements of the CMB anisotropy power spectrum and then focuses current and future programs including both suborbital observations and the two sel ected satellite missions: the NASA MidEX mission MAP and the ESA M3 mission Max Planck Surveyor. This review includes both a description of the experi mental programs and the expected quality level of results. (C) 2000 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.