AI Insight
The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys team has released the largest two-dimensional color map of the universe to date, comprising 5.6 trillion pixels and cataloging nearly 4 billion celestial objects, predominantly stars and galaxies. The comprehensive map is publicly accessible through the Legacy Survey Sky Viewer, making this astronomical data available to researchers and the general public worldwide.
Why it matters
This extensive catalog provides an unprecedented resource for astronomical research, enabling scientists to study the distribution and properties of celestial objects across vast regions of space. The public availability of this data democratizes access to cutting-edge astronomical observations and supports diverse research applications from galaxy evolution studies to cosmological investigations.
Understand the Science
Hold on to your telescopes: The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys team has released the largest-ever 2D color map of the universe. The 5.6-trillion-pixel map contains nearly 4 billion celestial objects, primarily stars and galaxies. The data is available for all to use and publicly view through the Legacy Survey Sky Viewer.