Latest news with #CosmicEvolutionSurvey
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Interactive map of the early universe is considered largest ever created
A team of astronomers have put together the largest, most detailed map of the universe ever created – and you can explore it now. The interactive online map, created using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, details some 800,000 galaxies across a vast cosmic distance – which in astronomy amounts to peering back in time. In fact, some of the galaxies are so far away, they appear as they existed not long after the Big Bang. Depicting a section of the universe known as the COSMOS-Web field, the new map is far more expansive than even the iconic Hubble Ultra Deep Field, a view of 10,000 galaxies NASA released in 2004. Spanning nearly all of cosmic time, the new map has the potential to challenge existing notions of the infant universe, the astronomers who created it claimed in a press release. The best part? The interactive map is available for the public to use. A team of international scientists who are part of the Cosmic Evolution Survey program (COSMOS) created and released the map of the universe Thursday, June 5. Compiled from more than 10,000 images of COSMOS-Web – the largest observing program of James Webb Space Telescope's first year in orbit – the map covers about three times as much space as the moon takes up when viewed from Earth. That makes it the largest contiguous image available from Webb, according to the Rochester Institute of Technology, whose Jeyhan Kartaltepe is a lead researcher on the project. An intricate astral tapestry, the map gives stargazers digital views of the ancient cosmos in unprecedented detail and breadth. Scrolling and zooming in can take users some 13.5 billion years back in time when the universe was in its infancy and stars, galaxies and black holes were still forming. 'If you had a printout of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field on a standard piece of paper, our image would be slightly larger than a 13-foot by 13-foot-wide mural, at the same depth," Caitlin Casey, a physicist at the University of California, Santa Barbara and co-lead for the COSMOS project, said in a statement. "It's really strikingly large.' Explore the interactive map . Using its powerful resolution and infrared capabilities, the James Webb Space Telescope observed a region of space known as the COSMOS-web field, which scientists have been surveying for years. The raw data from the COSMOS field observations was made publicly available once it was collected by Webb, but that didn't mean it was easily accessible. That's why the COSMOS project spent two years creating the map from Webb's raw data to make it more digestible for amateur astronomers, researchers and even the general public. "In releasing the data to the public, the hope is that other astronomers from all over the world will use it to, among other things, further refine our understanding of how the early universe was populated and how everything evolved to the present day," according to a statement from UC Santa Barbara. The James Webb Space Telescope, which launched in 2021, far surpasses the abilities of the Hubble Space Telescope, launched 35 years ago in 1990. Orbiting the sun rather than Earth, the Webb is outfitted with a gold-coated mirror and powerful infrared instruments to observe the cosmos like no instrument before. Since reaching the cosmos, Webb has not only facilitated countless scientific breakthroughs in astrophysics, but it also has produced gorgeous images of planets and other celestial objects, including star-forming regions. In March, NASA also deployed into orbit its SPHEREx telescope to collect data on more than 450 million galaxies. Scientists say the SPHEREx observatory will be able to get a wider view of the galaxy – identifying objects of scientific interest that telescopes like Hubble and Webb can then study up close. SPHEREx became operational in May, constantly snapping images of the cosmos. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Astronomers release largest interactive map of universe: Check it out
NDTV
12-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
James Webb Telescope Unveils Largest-Ever Map Of The Universe, Reveals 800,000 Galaxies
Scientists have unveiled the largest map of the universe, featuring nearly 800,000 galaxies across 13.5 billion years of cosmic history. This groundbreaking map, created by the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) collaboration, covers a small region of the sky equivalent to about three times the size of the full moon. The map showcases galaxies from the early universe, some of which appear as they did 13.5 billion years ago, just 300 million years after the Big Bang. Spanning 98% of the universe's timeline, this comprehensive dataset was made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope's 255 hours of observation. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) spent 255 hours observing a region of space known as the COSMOS field to gather data for the map. This area of the sky was chosen for its minimal interference from stars, gas clouds, and other features, allowing scientists to survey it across various wavelengths of light. The JWST's observations have provided an exceptionally detailed view of the universe dating back 13.5 billion years. Due to the universe's expansion, light from distant sources is stretched into infrared wavelengths, which the JWST was specifically designed to detect. This has enabled scientists to observe faint signals from the universe's early stages, reshaping our understanding of its formation. "Our goal was to construct this deep field of space on a physical scale that far exceeded anything that had been done before. If you had a printout of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field on a standard piece of paper, our image would be slightly larger than a 13-foot by 13-foot mural, at the same depth. So it's really strikingly large," says physicist Caitlin Casey of the University of California, Santa Barbara, who co-led the COSMOS collaboration with Jeyhan Kartaltepe of the Rochester Institute of Technology. The COSMOS-Web composite image captures a vast expanse of cosmic history, dating back 13.5 billion years, which covers approximately 98% of the universe's total age of 13.8 billion years. By observing this extensive period, researchers aimed to gain insights not only into the earliest galaxies but also into the broader cosmic environments that existed during the formation of the first stars, galaxies, and black holes in the early universe. How to use the Interactive Map Viewer To explore the map, curious individuals can visit the project's map viewer by following a link and clicking the "check it out!" button. The map displays over 700,000 galaxies and other objects in a square-ish image. To navigate the map effectively, use the layers and filters in the top right corner. These include: Views: Options like NIRCam RGB and other views Tiles: Breaks down the image into segments, showing which instrument captured each part Objects of Interest: Outlines notable objects, providing catalogue IDs, raw images, and additional data points like light wavelength The top left tools allow for search and configuration, enabling adjustments to brightness and hue to enhance object visibility. Users can experiment with the controls to discover interesting features and reset settings by refreshing the browser window.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This is the largest map of the universe ever made, and anyone can explore it
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. The universe is a big place, and while we're still unraveling the mysteries of the early universe, the James Webb Space Telescope has given us unprecedented looks at the cosmos around our little blue dot. Now, a massive trove of data from Webb has been released, including an interactive version of the largest map of the universe ever created. The map, which was shared as part of the Cosmic Evolution Survey out of Caltech, mapped out roughly 0.54 square degrees of the sky. The map, in all, weighs in at around 1.5 TB of data. It's massive, to say the least. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 Included among the shiny objects you can see in the largest map of the universe ever created are galaxies and stars that date back 13.5 billion years. These are some of the earliest looks at the cosmos that we have ever had as humans. This is one of those times where the internet really proves its worth to the world, giving everyone free access to this data. Researchers used James Webb's near infrared camera to map out the sky, capturing data across various stars and galaxies. And while the data is far too much for any one person to peer through alone, the interactive map means that you can easily take a look at everything Webb has collected, without having to dig into it deep enough to get lost. It also pairs really well with the most detailed map of the universe ever created. The map easily loads up in your browser, too, so you don't have to jump through hoops to take a look. You can even change the view up by interacting with the various icons on the top right, which will allow you to look at images in NIRCam, RGB, and more. This gives you the most comprehensive viewing experience for this large map of the universe. While you can't search for specific galaxies or stars based on name, you can easily sift through the map at your leisure, zooming in and out however you please. I highly recommend taking a look yourself, and enjoy the fruits of the labor that astronomers have been putting in over the past couple of years since Webb launched. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
CNET
10-06-2025
- Science
- CNET
Anyone Can Now Access the Largest Space Map Ever Created, Here's How
If you've ever wanted a better look at deep space, you now have your chance. A treasure trove of data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope is now available for public consumption. Included with the data is an interactive map that contains nearly 800,000 galaxies and various filters so you can view them in different ways. The data was made available starting on June 5 by the Cosmic Evolution Survey out of Caltech. It consists of survey data that mapped out 0.54 square degrees of the sky. For reference, if you take a look at this month's strawberry moon, the amount of sky that was mapped is equivalent to about three full moons side by side. The total size of all the map data is about 1.5 TB. Read more: Coolest Space Photos of 2025 Will Fill You With Cosmic Wonder Included in the map are galaxies and stars that are 13.5 billion years old, which means it provides the best look into the early universe that science has offered so far. NASA estimates that the universe is 13.8 billion years old, so those galaxies and stars are positively ancient. In all, there are galaxies and stars in the data that cover about 98% of the known universe's history. That makes it bigger than the largest Milky Way galaxy map ever created, which still only covers a small slice of the galaxy's overall layout. However, the Milky Way galaxy map is still larger in terms of data, as that map is over 500 TB in size. Researchers mapped the sky with the JWST's Near Infrared Camera and 0.2 square degrees of the sky with the Mid Infrared Instrument. In total, there's about 1.5 TB worth of data to sift through. Arguably the coolest part of the info dump is the interactive map, which loads in a web browser and allows users to move around and see everything that was included. Clicking on a point of interest shows you data about the star or galaxy you selected. COSMOS2025 Using the interactive map viewer Curious individuals can check out the project's map use the map, you simply have to follow the link and click the "check it out!" button. Once the map loads, you'll see a square-ish image that contains over 700,000 galaxies and other objects. Once you load the map, the best way to view it is using the layers and filters in the top right corner. The first box contains views, including NIRCam RGB and several other views. The second box breaks up the image into tiles. These tiles are how the image was mapped, so you can see which James Webb instrument was used to capture each segment of the map. For education purposes, the third box is the one to use. These options outline the objects of interest. Clicking on them provides you with a catalog ID — which lets you search for those objects again later — along with the raw images taken of each one and additional data points like light wavelength. The tools in the top left are used for search and configuration, like increasing the brightness and changing the hue to make some objects easier to view. With the controls, your best bet is to just look around and find all the cool stuff. At any point,k you can reset all of the settings by refreshing the browser window. How to access the data The data is accessible in a couple of different ways. The COSMOS2025 project published three research papers on the data they collected. The first is a catalog of everything that was observed. The other two focused on the near infrared imaging and mid infrared imaging used to obtain the data. You can obtain the data by filling out this form. Once done, you'll be able to download the data. It's available as a single, large download or you can download individual tiles if you prefer. There are more advanced instructions available from the COSMOS2025 project website if you need them and more data available here if you want to download it. You may notice that the majority of the map data is in the FITS file format. That's an unusual file format that your standard Photoshop or similar app won't be able to handle very well. Fortunately, NASA has a trustworthy list of FITS image viewers that you can choose from. The data will also be used to help answer questions about the early universe, and all this data being freely available to researchers the world over will help with that.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
James Webb telescope unveils largest-ever map of the universe, stretching from present day to the dawn of time
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have unveiled the largest map of the universe ever created. Stretching across a tiny sliver of space and almost all cosmic time, it includes almost 800,000 galaxies imaged across the universe. Some are so far away that they appear as they existed in the infant universe, about 13 billion years ago. The map, released Thursday (June 5) by scientists at the Cosmic Evolution Survey collaboration , covers a 0.54-degree-squared arc of the sky, or about three times as much space as the moon takes up when viewed from Earth. To collect the data for the map, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) spent 255 hours observing a region of space nicknamed the COSMOS field. This patch of sky has very few stars, gas clouds or other features blocking our view of the deep universe, so scientists have been surveying it with telescopes across as many wavelengths of light as possible. JWST's observations of the COSMOS field have given us an incredibly detailed view of the universe going back as far as 13.5 billion years. Because the universe has been expanding, visible light that left its source at the other side of the universe gets stretched out, becoming infrared light. This is why JWST was designed to be an extremely sensitive infrared telescope: to detect these faint, stretched-out signals from the beginning of time that we couldn't see with other telescopes. It's already reshaping our understanding of how the universe formed. RELATED STORIES —Catastrophic collision between Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies may not happen after all, new study hints —Universe may revolve once every 500 billion years — and that could solve a problem that threatened to break cosmology —Scientists discover smallest galaxy ever seen: 'It's like having a perfectly functional human being that's the size of a grain of rice' "Since the telescope turned on we've been wondering 'Are these JWST datasets breaking the cosmological model?" Caitlin Casey, a professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara and co-lead for the COSMOS project, said in a statement. "The big surprise is that with JWST, we see roughly 10 times more galaxies than expected at these incredible distances. We're also seeing supermassive black holes that are not even visible with Hubble." The raw data from the COSMOS field observations was made publicly available just after it was collected by JWST, but it wasn't easily accessible. Raw data from telescopes like JWST needs to be processed by people with the right technical knowledge and access to powerful computers. The COSMOS collaboration spent two years creating the map from JWST's raw data to make it more accessible for amateur astronomers, undergraduate researchers and the general public to peer into the heart of the universe. You can see it for yourself using COSMOS' interactive map viewer.
