NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory is an advanced telescope designed to enhance our understanding of the universe’s origins and the distribution of essential life-building elements. The upcoming news conference at 12 p.m. EST on January 31st will provide insights into the mission’s objectives, technical capabilities, and anticipated discoveries.

SPHEREx will conduct a full-sky survey using near-infrared light, allowing scientists to study the formation and evolution of galaxies while identifying water and organic molecules in star-forming regions. The mission is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket alongside NASA’s PUNCH mission. Thanks to the advanced telescope design, astronomers will be able to collect data “on more than 450 million galaxies, as well as more than 100 million stars in our own Milky Way galaxy.”

Image Credit: NASA