NASA is preparing to launch a new space telescope called SPHEREx, which will map the entire sky in over 100 different colours.
The mission, expected to last two years, will collect data on more than 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way. Scientists hope the telescope will help uncover the origins of the universe and the building blocks of life in space.
SPHEREx, which stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, will study galaxies both near and far, some so distant that their light has traveled for 10 billion years to reach Earth. NASA’s goal is to use the telescope’s all-sky map to better understand why the universe looks the way it does and how galaxies evolve over time.
One of SPHEREx’s most exciting abilities is its use of spectroscopy, a technique that splits light into 102 colours—similar to how a prism creates a rainbow. This helps scientists detect different molecules, such as water and carbon dioxide, in space. The telescope will search for these essential ingredients in the Milky Way, especially in the gas and dust clouds where new planets and stars form.
SPHEREx is a compact telescope, standing 2.6 meters tall, 3.2 meters wide, and weighing about 500 kg. Its cone-shaped structure helps keep its instruments cool by directing heat and light away. It will take about 600 images each day and complete a full scan of the sky every six months.
The telescope will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. While it was originally set to launch in February, NASA now expects liftoff to happen no earlier than March 6.
Unlike telescopes like Hubble or James Webb, which focus on specific areas of space, SPHEREx is designed to scan the entire sky quickly. This means it can help identify interesting objects for more detailed studies by other space observatories.
