NASA’s SPHEREx mission, set to launch in April 2025, is set to revolutionize space observations. Unlike previous space telescopes, SPHEREx will explore the universe in 102 infrared colors, providing unprecedented information about the origins of space and the potential existence of water on planets.

Colors will unlock the secrets of the universe

Although invisible to the human eye, this multicolored infrared mapping will shed light on mysteries dating back to the birth of the universe.

“We are the first mission to image the entire sky in this many colors,” said SPHEREx principal investigator Jamie Bock, who is working with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech. “We can expect discoveries every time astronomers look at the sky with new eyes.”

The essence of SPHEREx capabilities lies in the use of spectroscopy. This method separates light into individual colors, similar to how a prism separates sunlight into a rainbow.

By observing the infrared light emitted by hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies, scientists can obtain important information about their composition and distance from the Earth. This data will be synthesized into a never-before-seen map of the entire sky.

Rapid expansion of the early universe

One of SPHEREx’s main missions is to map the positions of galaxies to study the physics of cosmic inflation. Inflation refers to the moment after the Big Bang when the universe expanded exponentially in less than a second. This expansion left a permanent mark on how matter is distributed in space today. By examining these patterns, SPHEREx will help scientists better understand the mechanisms behind the rapid growth of the early universe.

Sheds light on the evolution of galaxies

The SPHEREx Universe Survey will also capture the accumulated light produced by all galaxies over time, providing a holistic view of light production in the Universe. Unlike studies that only observe individual galaxies and extrapolate the findings, SPHEREx will track how light production evolves over billions of years.

This means detecting even faint and distant sources that were previously overlooked, such as galaxies that are too small or distant for other telescopes to detect.

Analyzing light propagating through space

Light takes time to travel through space, so observing distant galaxies is like looking back in time. As light moves through space, it is stretched and its wavelength changes due to the expansion of the universe. SPHEREx will analyze this stretched light to determine when it was emitted and what it reveals about the state of the universe at different epochs.

Tracking water and vital elements

An important goal of the mission is to understand the distribution of water ice, carbon dioxide and other important molecules in the Milky Way. This information will clarify how these substances contributed to the formation of the planet. Research shows that most of the water in our galaxy exists in icy form on dust particles. These ice-covered particles could be incorporated into newly formed planets, possibly creating an environment that could support Earth-like oceans.

SPHEREx’s unique spectrum will allow scientists to pinpoint where water and other molecules are most concentrated. The chemical traces left in the colors of infrared light tell us what the elements are.

Observations from space telescopes

While the Hubble and James Webb telescopes provide detailed images of individual celestial objects, SPHEREx combines broad images of the sky with detailed spectral data. This combination offers a comprehensive approach that allows for a more connected understanding of space.

Observations made with telescopes designed for specific regions of the sky, combined with the SPHEREx all-sky perspective, will provide a richer and more layered understanding of cosmic processes.

Transformative discoveries in infrared

SPHEREx is expected to complement the efforts of previous and existing space observatories and provide a broader understanding of universal phenomena. By observing the universe in multiple infrared colors, the mission will lay a foundation for future research and could reveal hidden aspects of cosmic history.

With its innovative approach, SPHEREx aims to open a new page in our understanding of the universe by answering deep questions about the origin of galaxies, the rapid expansion of the universe, and the formation of life-sustaining molecules.