DESI Opens Access to the Largest 3D Map of the Universe Yet

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has released its first major dataset, known as Data Release 1 (DR1), which includes 270 terabytes of information collected over the first 13 months of its main survey. This dataset encompasses data on 18.7 million celestial objects, including approximately 4 million stars, 13.1 million galaxies, and 1.6 million quasars. DESI aims to enhance our understanding of dark energy, the force driving the universe's accelerating expansion, while also providing insights into other astrophysical phenomena such as galaxy evolution and dark matter. The release is significant as it contains more unique extragalactic objects than all previous 3D spectroscopic surveys combined. DESI operates using advanced technology, capturing data from thousands of objects simultaneously and processing it rapidly with the help of supercomputers. The collaboration, which includes over 900 researchers from more than 70 institutions, is committed to making this data accessible to the broader scientific community, encouraging innovative research and exploration. The project is ongoing, with plans to collect spectra for over 50 million galaxies and quasars by its conclusion in 2024.

- DESI's Data Release 1 includes data on 18.7 million celestial objects.

- The dataset is the largest of its kind, significantly expanding previous surveys.

- DESI aims to improve understanding of dark energy and other astrophysical questions.

- The collaboration involves over 900 researchers and emphasizes data accessibility.

- The project plans to collect data on over 50 million galaxies and quasars by 2024.