NASA is set to launch its highly anticipated space observatory, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer), which promises to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos. Scheduled for February 27, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, SPHEREx will map the entire sky in unprecedented detail, capturing data in 102 infrared colors.
Here are five key facts about this groundbreaking mission:
1. **Unveiling Cosmic Inflation**: SPHEREx aims to study cosmic inflation, a theoretical event that shaped the universe’s large-scale structure nearly 14 billion years ago. By analyzing over 450 million galaxies, scientists hope to gain insights into the fundamental forces governing the early universe.
2. **Measuring Collective Light Output**: Unlike traditional telescopes, SPHEREx will measure the total light emitted by all galaxies in the universe, providing a unique understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
3. **Searching for Life’s Building Blocks**: The mission will also investigate our own Milky Way, searching for molecular ingredients necessary for life. By mapping icy compounds, scientists can shed light on chemical conditions in planetary nurseries and potential life-supporting environments.
4. **Complementing Other Space Telescopes**: SPHEREx is designed to work alongside other powerful observatories, providing a broad, panoramic approach that complements specific celestial object studies.
5. **Creating Comprehensive All-Sky Map**: With 102 infrared colors, SPHEREx will produce the most detailed all-sky infrared map ever produced, giving astronomers a treasure trove of data to explore and uncovering unexpected cosmic phenomena.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/02/five-key-facts-about-spherex-nasas-new-space-telescope