Scientists release biggest 2D map of the universe
Astronomers have unveiled the largest 2D color map of the universe, a colossal 5.6-trillion-pixel mosaic detailing nearly 4 billion celestial objects. This publicly accessible dataset is not only a monumental achievement in observational astronomy but also forms the bedrock for advanced studies into cosmic expansion and the enigmatic dark energy. Its sheer scale and utility for both professional researchers and citizen scientists make it a captivating topic for the HN community interested in scientific progress and open data.
The Lowdown
Scientists from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys team have released the most extensive 2D color map of the universe to date. This monumental achievement, comprising a 5.6-trillion-pixel image, showcases nearly 4 billion stars and galaxies and is freely accessible via the Legacy Survey Sky Viewer, inviting both professional astronomers and citizen scientists to explore its depths.
- The map was constructed from over 263,000 telescope exposures, gathered from three ground-based surveys (DECaLS, MzLS, BASS) and supplemented by data from NASA's WISE satellite.
- It covers approximately 75% of the sky in visible and near-infrared light, offering an unprecedented deep view of the extragalactic universe.
- This 2D map serves as a critical foundation for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey, enabling the selection of targets for its 3D mapping efforts to investigate dark energy's influence on cosmic expansion.
- Researchers can utilize the map to discover rare phenomena like gravitational lenses, observe transient events such as supernovae, and further probe mysteries like dark matter and dark energy.
- The creation of the map involved a significant computational undertaking, including a year of code development and eight weeks of processing on the Perlmutter supercomputer.
- It is expected to be a foundational reference for next-generation telescopes like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and will aid in training AI for astronomical data analysis.
This release marks a significant milestone in astronomy, providing an unparalleled cosmic atlas that promises to accelerate discoveries and deepen our understanding of the universe for years to come, all while being a valuable open-source resource for global exploration.