Cosmic epoch · Cosmology
The Cosmic Dark Ages
Cosmology & UniverseStrong Evidence
Definition
The period after recombination and before the first stars, when the Universe was filled with neutral gas and no sources of light.
Scientific overview
After the CMB was released, the Universe entered a dark, starless era of neutral hydrogen and helium slowly drawn together by gravity and dark matter. It ended when the first stars ignited.
Open questions
- Exactly when did the first luminous objects form?
Rests on
Knowledge connections
- Depends onRecombination
- Part of modelThe Lambda-CDM Model
- Required byCosmic Dawn & the First Stars
- Preceded byRecombination
- Followed byCosmic Dawn & the First Stars
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.