Scottish Team Creates Universe's Largest Map

A groundbreaking 3D map of the known universe, believed to be the largest ever created, has been developed with significant contributions from Scottish researchers. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (Desi), housed at the Mayall telescope in Arizona, was instrumental in this five-year project. Scientists from the University of St Andrews collaborated with numerous international institutions to gather observations.

The Desi experiment, launched in May 2021, initially aimed to capture light from 34 million galaxies and quasars. However, it surpassed expectations, ultimately mapping 47 million galaxies and quasars, along with 20 million stars. This unprecedented level of detail allows for a deeper understanding of the cosmic web and how galaxies evolve over time.

Professor Rita Tojeiro of the University of St Andrews highlighted the map's immense impact on cosmology, noting its revolutionary nature and the potential for legacy science. The detailed information within the map will be explored for at least a decade, promising new insights into dark energy and dark matter, elusive components making up most of the universe's matter.