The SPHEREx space telescope will use spectroscopy to capture images of the sky in over a hundred colours. — BAE Systems
Nasa's ambitious SPHEREx mission will, for the first time, provide an unprecedented, colourful representation of the universe. The map should help researchers unravel many mysteries, related, for instance, to the creation of the universe or discovering the presence of water elsewhere than on Earth.
Set to be launched by US space agency Nasa in April 2025, this mission will observe the sky through the capture of infrared light in 102 distinct colors. Thanks to spectroscopy, ie, the analysis of the constituents of matter by their absorption spectrum, the SPHEREx space telescope will be able to break down the light from millions of stars and galaxies, delivering crucial information on the origin of the world and the evolution of galaxies. In addition to the visual aspect, this mission will also help us to better understand the creation of the universe.
By combining the capabilities of other space telescopes, such as Hubble and James Webb, SPHEREx will provide researchers with a global, colorful view of the universe, an unprecedented picture that will open up new perspectives. By analysing the composition of millions of stars and galaxies, SPHEREx will provide a better understanding of the evolution of the universe and the formation of galaxies.
Finally, the mission will seek to identify traces of water, notably in stellar nurseries where new stars are formed. These discoveries could provide clues as to the origin of water on Earth and the possibility of finding life elsewhere in the universe.
The data collected by SPHEREx will be accessible to the public and available to scientists from all over the world who wish to use it for their analysis purposes. – AFP Relaxnews
