NASA’s SPHEREx Telescope Begins Full-Sky Mapping

From Calibration to Discovery

This week, NASA's SPHEREx observatory transitioned from checkouts and calibrations to full science operations. Over the next two years, it will capture approximately 3,600 images each day as it systematically sweeps the entire sky.

Mapping the Universe in 3D

Launched on March 11, SPHEREx spent the last six weeks ensuring its instruments were perfectly tuned. Now, it will chart the positions of hundreds of millions of galaxies in three dimensions, tackling profound cosmology questions: How did the universe begin? What shaped its large-scale structure over billions of years?

A Collaborative Effort

"This new observatory is adding to the suite of space-based astrophysics survey missions leading up to the launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope," said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Together with these other missions, SPHEREx will play a key role in answering the big questions about the universe we tackle at NASA every day."

A Sky Full of Data

During its planned 25-month survey, SPHEREx will complete more than 11,000 orbits, circling Earth about 14.5 times a day. The resulting treasure trove of data promises to reshape our cosmic perspective and fuel the next wave of astronomical discoveries.

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NASA's SPHEREx space telescope begins mapping entire sky

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