NASA's SPHEREx Mission Aims to Map 450 Million Galaxies and 100 Million Stars.
NASA's upcoming SPHEREx mission is set to embark on an ambitious journey to map 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars. The Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) is a space telescope that will conduct an all-sky survey in optical and near-infrared light. This will allow scientists to study the formation and evolution of galaxies, as well as the distribution of water ice and other molecules in the universe.
SPHEREx is scheduled to launch in 2025 and will orbit the Earth in a sun-synchronous orbit. The telescope will use a 10-band spectrometer to collect data on the spectra of celestial objects. This will allow scientists to determine the composition of objects, their distance from Earth, and their motion through the universe.
One of the key goals of the SPHEREx mission is to study the epoch of reionization, a period in the early universe when the first stars and galaxies formed. During this time, the universe was filled with neutral hydrogen gas. As the first stars formed, their ultraviolet radiation began to ionize this gas, turning it into a plasma. This process is known as reionization.
SPHEREx will be able to study reionization by looking for galaxies that were emitting light during this period. These galaxies will be redshifted, meaning that their light has been stretched by the expansion of the universe. By measuring the redshift of these galaxies, scientists can determine when they emitted their light. This will allow them to map the progress of reionization across the universe.
In addition to studying reionization, SPHEREx will also be able to study the formation and evolution of galaxies. By measuring the spectra of galaxies, scientists can determine their age, metallicity, and star formation rate. This information will allow them to better understand how galaxies have formed and changed over time.
SPHEREx will also be able to study the distribution of water ice and other molecules in the universe. Water ice is a key ingredient for life, and its presence in interstellar clouds is thought to be necessary for the formation of planets. By mapping the distribution of water ice, SPHEREx will help scientists to identify potential locations where planets could form.
The SPHEREx mission is expected to make significant contributions to our understanding of the universe. The data collected by the telescope will be used to study a wide range of topics, including the formation and evolution of galaxies, the epoch of reionization, and the distribution of water ice and other molecules. This information will help us to better understand the origins of the universe and the potential for life elsewhere in the cosmos.
Here are some of the key science questions that the SPHEREx mission hopes to answer:
- When and how did the first galaxies form?
- What was the role of reionization in the evolution of the universe?
- How is water ice distributed throughout the universe?
- What are the conditions necessary for life to form?
The SPHEREx mission is a testament to NASA's ongoing commitment to exploring the universe. The data collected by this telescope will help us to answer some of the most fundamental questions about our place in the .