NASA’s SPHEREx space telescope, launched in March 2025, has officially started its groundbreaking mission to create the first 3D map of the entire observable universe. The telescope is currently capturing approximately 3,600 infrared images per day across 102 spectral bands, making it one of the most detailed space surveys to date.
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Orbiting Earth 14.5 times each day, SPHEREx scans from pole to pole, imaging one strip of the sky at a time. Over a 25-month mission, it will gradually map the entire sky. As Earth orbits the Sun, SPHEREx’s view shifts, enabling full-sky coverage every six months.
Unlike traditional observatories, SPHEREx features unprecedented spectral coverage. With its 102 infrared filters, it can precisely analyze the chemical composition of cosmic objects, far beyond the capabilities of earlier telescopes.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe
The mission’s primary goal is to help scientists understand the early expansion of the universe following the Big Bang, offering insights into the formation of galaxies and large-scale cosmic structures. SPHEREx will also play a critical role in the search for molecules linked to the origin of life, such as water ice and organic compounds, within the Milky Way galaxy.
This level of observational detail could reshape our understanding of cosmic evolution, star formation, and the conditions for life beyond Earth.