Award: The Sylvia A. Earle Award for Exploration Excellence, previously known as the Citation of Merit, is an annual award given by the Explorers Club to an individual or team […]
SPHEREx
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Astrochemistry Update: SPHEREx Observatory Completes First Cosmic Map Like No Other
Launched in March, NASA’s SPHEREx space telescope has completed its first infrared map of the entire sky in 102 colors. SPHEREx will help scientists answer big-picture questions about everything from […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
SPHEREx Pre-Perihelion Mapping of H2O, CO2, and CO in Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS
From 01- to 15-Aug-2025 UT, the SPHEREx spacecraft observed interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. Using R=40-130 spectrophotometry at λ=0.7-5μm, light curves, spectra, and imaging of 3I were obtained.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Interstellar, Status Report
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: Evidence for Galactic Cosmic Ray Processing
Spectral observations of 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) with JWST/NIRSpec and SPHEREx reveal an extreme CO2 enrichment (CO2/H2O = 7.6+-0.3) that is 4.5 sigma above solar system comet trends and among the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
SPHEREx Discovery of Strong Water Ice Absorption and an Extended Carbon Dioxide Coma in 3I/ATLAS
In mid-August 2025, 0.75-5.0 micron SPHEREx imaging spectrophotometric and ancillary NASA-IRTF SpeX 0.7-2.5 micron low-resolution spectral observations of Interstellar Object 3I ATLAS were obtained.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Conferences and Meetings, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, NASA Astrobiology Program, Press Release, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans
NASA Exoplanet Program Analysis Group Meeting 32
Date/Time: 19 August 2025 10AM – 5:30PM EDT NOTE: New registration is required for everyone planning to attend the August 19th meeting. Previous registrations have been deleted.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Stellar Cartography
Stellar Cartography: SPHEREx Begins Capturing The Entire Sky
Launched on March 11, NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory has spent the last six weeks undergoing checkouts, calibrations, and other activities to ensure it is working as it should.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
SPHEREx Takes Its First Images
Processed with rainbow hues to represent a range of infrared wavelengths, the new pictures indicate the astrophysics space observatory is working as expected.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
The Potential of the SPHEREx Mission for Characterizing PAH 3.3 μm Emission in Nearby Galaxies
Dust is a key galaxy component together with gas, stars, and central supermassive black holes, playing a crucial role in stellar and galaxy evolution.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
SPHEREx Space Telescope Will Seek Life’s Ingredients
Where is all the water that may form oceans on distant planets and moons? The SPHEREx astrophysics mission will search the galaxy and take stock.