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Successful Start of Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Follows Record-Setting Trial Run
The disk of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), which spans more than 3 degrees, is targeted by a single DESI pointing, represented by the large, pale green, circular overlay. The smaller circles within this overlay represent the regions accessible to each of the 5000 DESI robotic fiber positioners. In this sample, the 5000 spectra that were simultaneously collected by DESI include not only stars within the Andromeda Galaxy, but also distant galaxies and quasars. The example DESI spectrum that overlays this image is of a distant quasar (QSO) 11 billion years old. (Credit: DESI collaboration and DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys)
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A five-year quest to map the universe and unravel the mysteries of dark energy is beginning officially today, and University of Michigan researchers were instrumental in the project s development.
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, or DESI, is an international collaboration under the aegis of the Department of Energy s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with primary funding from DOE s Office of Science. The project aims to create a 3D map of the universe, unraveling the mysterious dark energy. To complete its quest, the instrument will capture and study the light from tens of millions of galaxies and other distant objects in the universe.
World s Largest Map of Space Offers Clues on Dark Energy scientificamerican.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from scientificamerican.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Building a Giant 2D Map of the Universe to Prepare for the Largest 3D Map
Nearly 200 researchers pitched in to gather, process, and stitch together images for half of the sky to prepare for the start of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument’s observations
January 13, 2021
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This video describes the monumental effort that went into constructing a 2D map of the universe to prepare for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, which will produce the largest-ever 3D map of the universe. The final data release for the preparation of this 2D map, known as Data Release 9 or DR9, was distributed Jan. 13. (Credit: Marilyn Sargent/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)