DESI Completes Largest 3D Universe Map and Extends Mission to 2028
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has successfully completed its original five-year mission, producing the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe to date. Surpassing initial expectations, the instrument mapped over 47 million galaxies and quasars, significantly exceeding the target of 34 million. This comprehensive dataset allows scientists to trace dark energy's influence across 11 billion years of cosmic history. Preliminary analysis of the first three years of data hints that dark energy may be evolving over time, challenging the standard cosmological constant model. Due to the instrument's exceptional performance and these intriguing findings, DESI will continue observations through 2028 to further expand the map and investigate the nature of dark energy and dark matter. The project, managed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, involves over 900 researchers from more than 70 institutions globally. Full results from the five-year survey are expected in 2027, potentially reshaping our understanding of the universe's fate. The instrument operates at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, utilizing 5,000 fiber-optic eyes to capture light from distant celestial objects.
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DESI Completes Largest 3D Universe Map and Extends Mission to 2028
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has successfully completed its original five-year mission, producing the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe to date. Surpassing initial expectations, the instrument mapped over 47 million galaxies and quasars, significantly exceeding the target of 34 million. This comprehensive dataset allows scientists to trace dark energy's influence across 11 billion years of cosmic history. Preliminary analysis of the first three years of data hints that dark energy may be evolving over time, challenging the standard cosmological constant model. Due to the instrument's exceptional performance and these intriguing findings, DESI will continue observations through 2028 to further expand the map and investigate the nature of dark energy and dark matter. The project, managed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, involves over 900 researchers from more than 70 institutions globally. Full results from the five-year survey are expected in 2027, potentially reshaping our understanding of the universe's fate. The instrument operates at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, utilizing 5,000 fiber-optic eyes to capture light from distant celestial objects.
Berkeley Lab News Center