Cosmology is the branch of astronomy that focuses on study the origin, evolution, composition and structure of the Universe. The goal is to try to understand scientific and philosophical questions of human beings about the Universe as a whole.
Since the dawn of humanity, humans have searched for answers to basic questions about life and the universe. What was the composition, size, and what existed before the universe came into being? These are some of the questions that cosmology is willing to try to answer.
Initially, cosmology emerged as part of philosophy, precisely as a method of finding explanations for the origin and transformations of nature through logic. In other words, it also came to demystify the idea that the origin of the universe is derived from the power of gods, for example. This period was known as Pre-Socratic or Cosmological Period.
There are two main cosmological models: the standard and the alternative. According to the standard idea, the Universe is approximately 13.7 billion years old and is in
constant expansion. The universe would be homogeneous and isotropic (with the same characteristics in their different directions).Furthermore, according to the standard cosmological model, the universe would be composed of about 74% energy dark, 22% dark matter, and 4% common matter (gases, dust, stars and other bodies heavenly).
See also the meaning of big Bang.
The alternative model encompasses the so-called "cosmological constant", functioning as a set of alternatives to explain dark energy. This constant was initially proposed by Albert Einstein to understand the functioning of a universe that would not be expanding (stationary universe).
Unlike the astrophysics that studies the properties and structures of celestial objects, cosmology analyzes the Universe in general. However, both areas of astronomy have several aspects in common, causing some confusion between the two sciences.
Among some of the scientists who have made an important contribution to cosmological studies, we highlight: Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642), Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 - 1543), Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955), Carl Sagan (1934 - 1996), Stephen Hawking (1942 - ), among others.
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Cosmogony and Cosmology
Unlike cosmological thinking, which consists of explaining reality through concepts and theories, cosmogonic thinking is the attempt to explain reality through myths.
However, cosmogony can also encompass scientific theories and concepts about the origin of the universe. The main difference with cosmology is that cosmogonic thinking also accepts theories religious and mythological, while the cosmological boils down only to what is based on logic and science.
