NASA to Launch Mission for 3D Color Map of Entire Sky

NASA is set to launch SPHEREx, a groundbreaking mission that will create the most detailed 3D color map of the entire sky.

Scheduled for February 28, the spacecraft will conduct four full-sky surveys over two years, capturing data in 102 infrared colors to explore cosmic history, galaxy formation, and the origins of water in space.

SPHEREx will focus on three key objectives: studying the universe’s shape after the Big Bang, measuring total light from all galaxies, and detecting water and essential compounds in the Milky Way.

The mission will map approximately 450 million galaxies, providing insights into cosmic inflation and how galaxies evolved over time.

Additionally, it will help identify frozen water and other life-forming molecules, offering clues about planetary formation. 

SPHEREx’s findings will complement data from the James Webb Space Telescope, enhancing our understanding of the cosmos.

Scientists expect this mission to unlock new insights into the universe’s past and the potential for life beyond Earth.