• SPHEREx is mapping the entire sky in 102 infrared wavelengths to study the origins of the universe, galaxy formation, and the building blocks of life.
• The telescope will capture approximately 3,600 images per day and complete four full-sky maps during its 25-month mission.
• SPHEREx will investigate cosmic inflation and search for water and other life-enabling compounds in interstellar clouds.

NASA's SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) telescope, launched on March 11, 2025, has officially commenced its scientific mission. The telescope is designed to map the entire sky in 102 colors of infrared light, a feat no other observatory has accomplished. SPHEREx aims to provide new insights into the origins of the universe, the formation and evolution of galaxies, and the distribution of key molecules essential for life. The mission involves capturing about 3,600 images per day over a 25-month period, ultimately creating four complete maps of the entire sky.

• What: SPHEREx is mapping the entire sky in infrared light, capturing 3,600 images daily and 600 exposures, to study the origins of the universe, galaxy formation, and the building blocks of life. It will complete four full-sky maps over 25 months.
• Who: NASA's SPHEREx mission involves collaboration between NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and other academic and industry partners. Key individuals include Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Jim Fanson, and Jamie Bock.
• When: SPHEREx was launched on March 11, 2025, and commenced regular science operations on May 1, 2025. The mission is planned to last for 25 months.
• Where: SPHEREx is orbiting Earth in a polar orbit, passing over the North and South Poles. Its observations encompass the entire celestial sphere.

The SPHEREx mission represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the universe. Its ability to map the entire sky in 102 infrared wavelengths, more than any previous mission, will provide a wealth of data for studying cosmic inflation, the evolution of galaxies, and the distribution of water and other molecules essential for life. The mission complements other space-based astrophysics surveys, such as the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, contributing to a more comprehensive picture of the cosmos. The high level of collaboration between various institutions and the positive initial performance of the instrument suggest a promising future for SPHEREx's scientific contributions.

Thanks to the hard work of teams across NASA, industry, and academia that built this mission, SPHEREx is operating just as we’d expected and will produce maps of the full sky unlike any we’ve had before.

We’re going to study what happened on the smallest size scales in the universe’s earliest moments by looking at the modern universe on the largest scales.

The performance of the instrument is as good as we hoped. That means we’re going to be able to do all the amazing science we planned on and perhaps even get some unexpected discoveries.

The SPHEREx mission has begun its 25-month campaign to map the entire sky in infrared light, aiming to unravel the mysteries of the universe's origins, galaxy formation, and the building blocks of life. With its advanced capabilities and comprehensive approach, SPHEREx promises to deliver valuable insights and complement ongoing astrophysics research. The initial phase of the mission has been successful, and the scientific community eagerly anticipates the data and discoveries that will emerge from this groundbreaking endeavor.