Artist's concept of the universe expansion

Space is represented at each time by the circular sections. On the left, the dramatic expansion (not to scale) occurring in the inflationary epoch, and at the center the expansion acceleration. The scheme is decorated with WMAP images on the left and with the representation of stars at the appropriate level of development.

Source: WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe) press release, 2006