NASA's SPHEREx mission, a near-infrared space telescope, is set to launch no earlier than June 2025. Its two-year mission will map the entire sky four times, creating a massive 3D map of hundreds of millions of galaxies and more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way. This data will help scientists study the early universe's expansion, the origin of water and other life-sustaining molecules, and the formation of galaxies.
The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed intricate networks of dust filaments within the nearby galaxy IC 5146, offering unprecedented detail of the interstellar medium. This "cosmic web" of dust, illuminated by newborn stars, traces the distribution of material between stars and provides insights into how stars form and influence their surrounding environments. Webb's infrared capabilities allowed it to penetrate the dust clouds, revealing previously unseen structures and providing valuable data for understanding the lifecycle of interstellar dust and the processes of star formation.
Hacker News users discuss the implications of the Webb telescope's discovery of complex organic molecules in a young, distant galaxy. Some express awe at the technology and the scientific advancements it enables, while others delve into the specific findings, pondering the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their significance for the possibility of life. Several commenters highlight the relatively early stage of these discoveries and anticipate future, even more detailed observations. A degree of skepticism is also present, with users questioning the certainty of attributing these complex molecules specifically to the early galaxy, as opposed to potential foreground contamination. The potential for JWST to revolutionize our understanding of the universe is a recurring theme.
Summary of Comments ( 61 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43296184
Hacker News users generally expressed excitement about the SPHERX mission and its potential to expand our understanding of the universe. Several commenters discussed the implications of mapping such a vast number of galaxies for studying dark energy and cosmic inflation. Some questioned the $98M budget, wondering how it could be so low compared to other space telescopes. A few users highlighted the importance of near-infrared spectroscopy in SPHERX's mission, while others discussed the trade-offs between cost and scientific capabilities compared to larger telescopes. Technical details, like the use of a two-mirror, three-element unobscured anastigmat telescope, were also mentioned. There's a thread discussing the lack of detail in the NBC article and the need for more comprehensive reporting on scientific endeavors. Finally, some commenters expressed hope for discovering signs of extraterrestrial life or other unexpected phenomena.
The Hacker News post titled "NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies" has generated a number of comments discussing various aspects of the SPHEREx mission.
Several commenters express excitement about the scientific potential of the mission. One user highlights the impressive scale of the survey, mapping hundreds of millions of galaxies, and anticipates the insights it could provide into the universe's early history and the nature of dark energy. Another emphasizes the mission's relatively low cost, considering its ambitious goals. There's also discussion of the innovative all-sky spectral survey approach SPHEREx will utilize.
Some comments delve into more technical details. One user questions the spectral resolution of the instrument and how it compares to other spectroscopic surveys. Another discusses the challenges of processing and analyzing the massive dataset that SPHEREx will produce. A commenter with apparent expertise in the field explains the trade-offs between spectral resolution and sky coverage, pointing out that SPHEREx prioritizes a wider view at the expense of finer spectral detail.
A few comments touch on the broader context of space exploration. One user laments the relatively small budget allocated to NASA compared to other government spending, while another expresses hope for the continued advancement of scientific knowledge through missions like SPHEREx. There's also a brief discussion about the role of private companies in space exploration and how they might complement government-funded initiatives.
Some users focus on specific aspects of the article or mission. One points out the use of "near-infrared light" and asks for clarification on the specific wavelengths. Another expresses curiosity about the mention of "icy biogenic molecules" and their significance in the search for life beyond Earth.
Finally, a few comments are more lighthearted or tangential. One user jokingly suggests using the data to find habitable planets and escape Earth. Another simply expresses awe at the vastness of the universe and the ambitious nature of the project. One user wonders if the data will eventually be made public.