NASA’s SPHEREx observatory has completed its first full-sky map, collecting near-infrared data at 102 wavelengths since its launch in March 2025.

The map allows scientists to study the early universe’s inflation and the distribution of organic molecules across space, providing unique information for each of the 102 wavelengths.

SPHEREx operates from a polar Sun-synchronous orbit, imaging the sky along strips daily and stitching the data into a comprehensive mosaic; this is the first of four all-sky maps planned during its two-year mission.

Unlike other infrared missions, SPHEREx combines a wide field of view with multi-wavelength observations, enabling three-dimensional mapping that helps measure galaxy distances and distributions, NASA Spaceflight has reported.

The observatory’s data, published online for public and scientific use, offers unprecedented insights into cosmic structures and the universe’s formative processes.