APOD: 2026 April 23 – Large Scale Structure of the Universe
Discover the cosmos!
Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2026 April 23
Large Scale Structure of the Universe
Image Credit:
Claire Lamman/DESI collaboration
Text:
Cecilia Chirenti
(NASA
GSFC,
UMCP,
CRESST II)
Explanation:
This is a map of the universe.
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) at Kitt Peak National Observatory, Arizona, finished its planned five-year survey.
It observed more than 47 million galaxies and quasars and created a 3D map, centered on the Earth.
Today’s featured image shows a thin slice of these data, above and below the plane of our Galaxy: the black gaps indicate where our Galaxy obscures distant objects.
The feathery web in the inset shows the large scale structure of the Universe.
Light of the most distance galaxies shown here travelled for 11 billion years to reach the Earth (the universe is almost 14 billion years old).
Galaxies cluster throughout cosmic history under the competing influences of gravity and dark energy, responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe.
Early DESI results hinted at the possibility that dark energy, which Albert Einstein described as a cosmological constant, may not be a constant after all.
The nature of dark energy is the biggest mystery of cosmology.
Tomorrow’s picture: What’s next?
<
| Archive
| Submissions
| Index
| Search
| Calendar
| RSS
| Education
| About APOD
| Discuss
| >
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Amber Straughn
Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy,
Accessibility,
Notices;
A service of:
ASD at
NASA /
GSFC,