Browsing: SPHEREx

SPHEREx, short for the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer, is a planned NASA mission aimed at studying the origins of the universe, the formation of galaxies, and the role of interstellar ice in star formation. Scheduled for launch in 2024, SPHEREx will conduct a full-sky spectral survey in infrared light, which will allow scientists to gather data across more than 100 million stars and galaxies. This data will help researchers better understand the conditions that prevailed in the early universe and how galaxies have evolved over billions of years. Additionally, SPHEREx will map the presence of organic ices in the Milky Way, which are fundamental components for the building blocks of life. The mission is unique because it combines wide-area spectral imaging with a broad range of wavelength coverage, providing unprecedented insight into both cosmological phenomena and the molecular composition of space dust and ices.