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The DESI 3D map provides an unprecedented view of the cosmic web, offering new insights into the role of dark energy in the expansion of the universe.Los Angeles Today
The United States’ Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has completed a five-year mission to produce the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe ever made. The map is aimed at studying dark energy and the expansion history of the cosmos.
Why it matters
Understanding dark energy and the expansion of the universe are key goals of modern cosmology. The unprecedented scale and resolution of the DESI 3D map will provide invaluable data to help scientists better model the structure and evolution of the universe.
The details
DESI, operated by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, used a 4-meter telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona to collect light from over 35 million galaxies and quasars. This data was then used to construct the largest and most detailed 3D map of the observable universe to date.
DESI began its 5-year mapping mission in 2021.The project was completed and the final map released on April 15, 2026.
The players
Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI)
A scientific instrument operated by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to map the large-scale structure of the universe and study dark energy.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
A U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory located in Berkeley, California that conducts scientific research, including the DESI project.
Kitt Peak National Observatory
An astronomical observatory located on Iolkam Du’ag (Kitt Peak) in the Quinlan Mountains of southern Arizona, which hosted the 4-meter telescope used by DESI.
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What they’re saying
“This map will transform our understanding of the universe’s expansion and the role of dark energy.”
— Natalie Roe, Director, Physics Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
What’s next
Scientists will now begin analyzing the DESI 3D map data to gain new insights into the nature of dark energy and the history of cosmic expansion.
The takeaway
The unprecedented scale and resolution of the DESI 3D map of the universe represents a major milestone in our efforts to unravel the mysteries of dark energy and the evolution of the cosmos.