This paper brings together the theory of observational cosmology and the null-cone characteristic initial value problem (CIVP) of numerical relativity. A computer code is constructed which calculates the past behaviour of the Universe from input data that is, in principle, measurable. For practical reasons the code is limited to the case of axisymmetry without rotation. The construction of the code brings to light an interesting general point about observational cosmology. In a big-bang universe it is impossible, even in principle, to determine the state of the universe at early times. For the Einstein-de Sitter model this limit ist0/27, wheret0means now.