NASA has successfully launched its newest space telescope, SPHEREx, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking a groundbreaking mission to create a vast three-dimensional map of the cosmos.
The Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) will observe the entire sky in infrared light using its four sensors to scan 102 different wavelengths over the next two years. Unlike the James Webb Space Telescope, which focuses on specific targets, SPHEREx is designed to map the cosmos at once, detecting faint cosmic signatures that can reveal the universe’s origins.
A key objective of SPHEREx is to study cosmic inflation and its impact on galaxy structure. By analyzing light distribution across space and time, astronomers hope to piece together the cosmic web – the large-scale structure shaped by dark matter and gravity. The telescope will also partner with PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) to study the sun’s atmosphere and solar wind.
The partnership between SPHEREx and PUNCH saved NASA at least $15 million in launch costs, demonstrating a new strategy of maximizing science returns while optimizing budgets. With its all-sky infrared survey, SPHEREx will build a comprehensive catalog of infrared light sources across the universe, supporting future astronomical missions and allowing scientists to compare findings with high-resolution images from more powerful telescopes.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/spherex-telescope-launches-map-universe