NASA is set to launch its new telescope, SPHEREx, on February 27, which will create the most detailed and colourful map of the cosmos ever made. The two-year mission aims to reveal crucial secrets about the formation of the universe, galaxy growth, and the presence of water and life-bearing molecules.
SPHEREx, a relatively small infrared telescope, will divide light from objects in the sky into 96 bands, covering the entire sky like never before. This massive leap forward will help astronomers understand chemistry and physics on a universal scale.
The mission complements existing telescopes like James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope, which focus on high-resolution measurements of faint objects. SPHEREx will take spectroscopic images of 1 billion galaxies, 100 million stars, and 10,000 asteroids, providing new insights into the universe’s history and evolution.
One of SPHEREx’s primary objectives is to measure cosmic inflation, the rapid expansion of the universe after the Big Bang. By mapping the entire sky, the telescope will create a picture of the cosmos in both position and time, helping scientists test theories of inflation.
The mission also aims to pinpoint the location of water- and life-bearing molecules in our galaxy, the Milky Way. These molecules are trapped in icy particles and need to travel onto planets for life to emerge. SPHEREx will generate 8 million new spectroscopic images, revolutionizing our understanding of how life came to be.
The successful completion of this mission will enable astronomers to identify promising regions for life and gather large-scale data to separate meaningful patterns from anomalies.
Source: https://theconversation.com/nasas-new-telescope-will-create-the-most-colourful-map-of-the-cosmos-ever-made-247104