GoKawiilDESI Releases Largest 3D Map of Universe with 4 Billion Objects, Open to Public
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument team has published an updated version of its Legacy Imaging Surveys, offering free public access to the largest three-dimensional map of the cosmos ever assembled. The dataset spans 5.6 trillion pixels and roughly 75 percent of the sky, cataloging about 4 billion stars, galaxies, black holes and asteroids captured in visible and near-infrared light.
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This map is a core tool in the effort to understand dark energy, the unexplained force driving the universe's accelerating expansion, and has already underpinned more than 1,800 scientific papers from over 160 researchers. By making the data publicly explorable, DESI extends its usefulness beyond professional astronomers, potentially fueling new discoveries from citizen scientists and educators alike.
- DESI's new map contains 5.6 trillion pixels and about 4 billion celestial objects.
- The survey covers roughly 75% of the sky using visible and near-infrared imaging.
- Anyone can freely explore the data online, building on 18 years of astronomical research.
Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope — If DESI's 4-billion-object sky map makes you want to look up yourself, this computerized reflector points itself at galaxies, nebulae and planets from its onboard object database. It's a friendly way to turn armchair cosmology into real backyard observing.
See Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: wired.com — Ritsuko Kawai, 2026-09-07
Published there as: “Astronomers Have Completed the Largest Map of Space. Yes, You Can Play With It.”
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