Even a suitable skeptic of certain pronouncements about the age and structure of the Universe should be pleased with the large steps that have been taken in furthering our understanding of the Universe since the early 1990’s. In short, the Universe of our expectations rarely matches the Universe as it is discovered.
Taking the Measure of the Low-Redshift Universe.- Which Properties of Galaxies can Likely Evolve (and be Measured)?.- Observations of an Evolving Universe.- Galaxies at the Contemporary Limits.- Observational Cosmology.- Astronomical Instrumentation of the Future.- Briefly: Some Overall Conclusions and Problems.