Short Answer
The Big Bang is the best answer.
Astrophysics questions often combine observation with first-principles physics. The winning move is to connect the measurement being made, such as luminosity, spectrum, redshift, or orbit, to the physical model behind it.
The CMB is the afterglow of the Big Bang — thermal radiation from when the universe cooled enough for atoms to form (~380,000 years after).
Why This Answer Is Correct
This is a Easy-level question in Astrophysics & Cosmology. The prompt is really testing whether you can connect the concept to its defining physical relationship instead of picking a nearby-but-wrong term.
Good astrophysics reasoning always asks what the telescope actually measured and what physical quantity that measurement traces.
Choices At A Glance
- A. Dark matter
- B. Supernovae
- C. The Big Bang
- D. Gravitational waves
When similar options appear on an exam, eliminate the ones that break the core law, use the wrong units, or confuse a definition with a consequence.
Topic Snapshot
Topic: Astrophysics & Cosmology
Difficulty: Easy
Best next move: Re-state the governing law in your own words, then solve one more example from the same topic before moving on.