SPHEREx’s Concentric Cones
NASA’s SPHEREx mission will use a novel telescope design to study the nature of dark energy and dark matter, and to explore the origins of galaxies. The telescope will have four concentric cones that will collect light from different parts of the sky. This design will allow SPHEREx to cover a wide range of wavelengths, from visible light to near-infrared light.
The SPHEREx telescope is being developed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2025.
Concentric Cones Design
The SPHEREx telescope will have four concentric cones that will collect light from different parts of the sky. The cones will be made of a lightweight material, such as carbon fiber.
The inner cone will collect light from the central part of the sky. The outer cone will collect light from the outer part of the sky. The two middle cones will collect light from the middle part of the sky.
This design will allow SPHEREx to cover a wide range of wavelengths, from visible light to near-infrared light. The visible light cones will be used to study the nature of dark energy and dark matter. The near-infrared light cones will be used to explore the origins of galaxies.
Mission Objectives
The SPHEREx mission has three main objectives:
- To study the nature of dark energy and dark matter.
- To explore the origins of galaxies.
- To search for new exoplanets.
Dark Energy and Dark Matter
Dark energy is a mysterious force that is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate. Dark matter is a type of matter that does not emit or reflect any light.
SPHEREx will use its wide range of wavelengths to study the effects of dark energy and dark matter on the universe. The mission will also search for new ways to measure the properties of dark energy and dark matter.
Origins of Galaxies
Galaxies are large collections of stars, gas, and dust. SPHEREx will use its near-infrared light cones to study the origins of galaxies. The mission will search for the first galaxies that formed in the universe.
SPHEREx will also study the evolution of galaxies over time. The mission will investigate how galaxies grow and change over billions of years.
Exoplanets
Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars other than the Sun. SPHEREx will use its visible light cones to search for new exoplanets. The mission will also study the atmospheres of exoplanets to learn more about their composition and habitability.
Launch and Deployment
The SPHEREx mission is scheduled to launch in 2025. The mission will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
After launch, SPHEREx will travel to a point in space called the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point. The L2 Lagrange point is located about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
SPHEREx will spend five years at the L2 Lagrange point conducting its science mission. The mission will end in 2030.
Conclusion
The SPHEREx mission is a groundbreaking mission that will study the nature of dark energy and dark matter, and explore the origins of galaxies. The mission will also search for new exoplanets. SPHEREx is expected to make significant contributions to our understanding of the universe.
SPHEREx’s Concentric Cones
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