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3w ago

NASA's SPHEREx Telescope Achieves Major Milestone with First Space Images

The infrared observatory confirms full functionality as it prepares to begin its two-year sky survey later this month.

NASA's SPHEREx captured its first images of galaxies on March 27.

Overview

  • SPHEREx, launched on March 11, 2025, has successfully captured its first calibrated space images, demonstrating operational readiness.
  • The telescope, operating at a cryogenic temperature of minus 350°F, uses 17 infrared wavelength bands to detect faint cosmic signals.
  • SPHEREx will map the entire sky four times over its two-year mission, taking 600 exposures daily to study millions of galaxies and interstellar phenomena.
  • Data from the mission will provide insights into the origins of water in the Milky Way and the universe's earliest moments.
  • NASA scientists have confirmed that all systems, including SPHEREx's advanced detectors and spectroscopy capabilities, are functioning as intended.