NASA’s SPHEREx begins mapping to reveal universe’s deep mysteries
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NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory has begun taking 3,600 unique images daily as it surveys the universe. Launched on March 11, the observatory will complete over 11,000 orbits in two years, circling Earth approximately 14.5 times each day.
Throughout its mission, SPHEREx will generate four complete maps of the sky, offering insights into cosmic inflation and the universe’s expansion. It will also scan the entire sky across 102 infrared wavelengths of light, providing information about cosmic sources, NDTV reported.
According to a report from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, SPHEREx is already operating as expected, using reaction wheels instead of conventional thrusters to adjust its orientation.
With each exposure, the telescope captures six images across multiple infrared wavelengths. Shawn Domagal-Goldman, the acting director of NASA’s astrophysics division, highlighted how SPHEREx contributes to the preparation for future missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Thanks to its spinning field of view, SPHEREx can scan the entire sky every six months, enabling it to complete four full surveys during its two-year mission.
SPHEREx will use spectroscopy to determine the distances between galaxies, generating a 3D map of the cosmos and uncovering clues about how water arrived on Earth and the role of interstellar clouds in forming life-essential chemicals.
The mission plans to conduct over nine million measurements within the Milky Way, helping scientists understand how different environments impact cosmic chemistry.
According to mission principal investigator Jamie Bock, some team members have dedicated more than ten years to reaching this point, and the mission has the potential to surpass its initial scientific objectives.
NASA’s SPHEREx mission may uncover evidence of cosmic inflation, the rapid expansion that occurred just after the Big Bang.
These findings could shed light on the universe’s structure and evolution, along with the formation of stars and galaxies. Led by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech, SPHEREx is part of an international collaboration involving South Korea and Taiwan. Its data analysis aims to universe downward, closer.