NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory has officially begun its science operations following its March 11 launch and six weeks of calibrations. This mission is mapping the entire sky in 3D, tracking hundreds of millions of galaxies to investigate the origins of the universe and the building blocks of life in the Milky Way.
On May 1, SPHEREx started capturing about 3,600 images daily, with plans to operate for two years. These observations will offer unprecedented insights into galactic evolution and cosmic mysteries.
NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory is performing exactly as planned, thanks to the dedication of teams across NASA, industry, and academia. This mission will create unprecedented full-sky maps, offering insights into galactic evolution, cosmic origins, and the ingredients for life.
SPHEREx joins a suite of space-based astrophysics survey missions, paving the way for the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Together, these missions will help answer some of the biggest questions about the universe’s formation, structure, and future.
NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory, positioned in Earth orbit, scans the cosmos by pointing away from the planet and the Sun. Over its 25-month mission, it will complete over 11,000 orbits, circling Earth about 14½ times per day from north to south, passing over the poles. Each day, it captures images along a single strip of the sky, and after six months, it will observe the entire sky in every direction.
SPHEREx uses six detectors to capture different wavelengths of light, producing six image exposures—about 600 per day. Instead of moving mirrors or sensors, the observatory shifts position after each exposure. Unlike telescopes that rely on thrusters, SPHEREx controls its orientation using reaction wheels, which spin internally to adjust its aim.
NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory will create four all-sky maps over two years, combining hundreds of thousands of images to explore the universe’s origins. The mission aims to uncover details about cosmic inflation, which caused the universe to expand rapidly in its first fraction of a second after the Big Bang.
Scientists will study how early universe properties shaped the modern universe, with clues written into the distribution of galaxies. Since cosmic inflation requires immense energy, understanding it offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the universe’s workings.
According to Jim Fanson, JPL project manager, this approach connects the most minor scales of the early universe to the largest structures we see today. Jamie Bock, mission principal investigator, added that after 12 years of preparation, the instrument’s performance meets expectations, allowing for planned discoveries and potential surprises.
NASA’s SPHEREx observatory isn’t the first to map the entire sky, but it’s the first to do so in 102 infrared wavelengths, revealing details invisible to the human eye. Using spectroscopy, SPHEREx separates light into specific wavelengths, like a prism creating a rainbow, allowing scientists to analyze cosmic sources.
Key Insights from SPHEREx:
- Galaxy Mapping: Spectroscopy helps determine the distances to faraway galaxies, transforming 2D maps into 3D views of the universe.
- Cosmic Glow: SPHEREx will measure the collective light from all galaxies ever formed, showing how it has changed over time.
- Search for Life’s Ingredients: The telescope will look for water and organic molecules across the galaxy, tracing their origins to the interstellar cloud where the Sun formed.
- Interstellar Chemistry: SPHEREx will conduct over 9 million observations, mapping interstellar clouds to understand how different conditions influenced the formation of key compounds found on Earth today.
