NASA has released a striking new map of the cosmos that scientists believe could shed fresh light on some of the universe’s most enduring questions. Created using the agency’s SPHEREx space telescope, the first all-sky image presents a simulated three-dimensional view of the heavens. It reveals clouds of cosmic dust in deep reds, hydrogen gas glowing in electric blues, and stars rendered in white, blue and green tones.
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The panoramic map draws on SPHEREx’s ability to detect infrared wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye. By capturing dozens of subtle colour variations, astronomers can calculate the distances to hundreds of millions of galaxies and analyse how they are spread across the universe. In this three-dimensional view, galaxies that appear redder are generally farther away, while those closer to Earth show bluer hues. This shift in colour is caused by the stretching or compression of light as the universe expands, a process known as redshift.
Scientists will use data gathered since the telescope was launched into low-Earth orbit in March to examine how galaxies have evolved over nearly 14 billion years. The findings may also offer new clues about how essential building blocks for life formed within our own Milky Way. Although the James Webb Space Telescope also observes the universe in infrared light, its field of view is far narrower. By contrast, SPHEREx is designed to scan the entire sky.
Formally known as the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionisation and Ices Explorer, SPHEREx orbits about 400 miles above Earth. It circles the planet roughly 14 and a half times each day, capturing around 3,600 images along a single band of sky before gradually shifting to build a complete 360-degree survey.
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Over its two-year mission, the telescope is expected to complete three further full-sky scans, collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies and over 100 million stars in the Milky Way. Dave Gallagher, director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, described the project as a powerful example of ambitious science in action. He said SPHEREx demonstrates how bold ideas can be turned into reality, opening the door to major new discoveries about the universe.
