This horn antenna was intended for the COBE satellite, which was used to measure cosmic background radiation.
The antenna was presented to the Nobel Prize Museum in 2006 by George Smoot and NASA.
This instrument is a prototype intended for the COBE satellite, which was used to measure cosmic background radiation. George Smoot and his research team were able to use data from the COBE in 1992 to show minor variations in radiation from different directions. This was a clue to how stars and other celestial bodies were created.
The variations can be explained by quantum fluctuations which cause particles to form lumps in the universe. These then continued to grow due to gravity.
The antenna prototype was presented to the Nobel Prize Museum in 2006 by George Smoot and NASA.
