{"id":679,"date":"2026-04-19T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/?p=679"},"modified":"2026-04-19T10:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:00:00","slug":"largest-3d-map-of-the-universe-ever-shows-47-million-galaxies-from-the-milky-way-to-cosmic-noon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/?p=679","title":{"rendered":"Largest 3D map of the universe ever shows 47 million galaxies from the Milky Way to &#8216;cosmic noon&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission when you buy through links in our articles.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Part of DESI&#8217;s 5th year large-scale structure map of the universe. |Credit: DESI Collaboration and DESI Member Institutions\/DOE\/KPNO\/NOIRLab\/NSF\/AURA\/R. ProctorImage Processing: M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">simple facts<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>What is it:<\/strong> Largest 3D map of the universe ever created<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Where is it:<\/strong> space seen from earth<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>When shared:<\/strong> April 17, 2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This snapshot is just one part of the most comprehensive and spectacular view of the universe ever. This is a web-like structure formed by millions of galaxies and dating back to ancient times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Each tiny dot in the image represents a galaxy mapped by the Dark Energy Spectrometer (DESI). Galaxies are not randomly distributed. Instead, they form filaments or clusters known as the cosmic web. In between these clusters of bright galaxies are vast regions of sky known as voids, where few stars or galaxies exist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This image is from the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe ever created. DESI is mounted on the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona and uses 5,000 robotic fiber-optic sensors to capture light from distant celestial objects.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"An hourglass shaped image of blue and white light on a black background\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776673691_119_Largest-3D-map-of-the-universe-ever-shows-47-million.jpeg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>A complete DESI map of the cosmic web, showing approximately 47 million galaxies. |Credit: DESI Collaboration and DESI Member Institutions\/ DOE\/ KPNO\/ NOIRLab\/ NSF\/ AURA\/ R. Proctor<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The five-year survey was expected to collect data on 34 million galaxies and quasars, the bright cores of young, distant galaxies. In fact, it detected more than 47 million, along with more than 20 million nearby stars in the Milky Way. a <u>visualization<\/u> A diagram published alongside the DESI map shows how DESI has grown over the last five years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Some of the light captured in this image took billions of years to reach Kitt Peak, allowing scientists to go back in time and reconstruct how the universe evolved. The result is a three-dimensional view that shows not only where galaxies are located, but also how they have moved and clustered over time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Beyond the visual impact, this image plays an important role in exploring the mystery. <u>dark energy<\/u>the name given by physicists to the force that appears to be causing the accelerated expansion of the universe. It makes up about 70% of the universe, and its nature and distribution are one of the biggest questions in physics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">By comparing the distribution of galaxies at different times, researchers can track how dark energy has influenced the structure of the universe over the past 11 billion years. Early DESI data already suggests that; <u>Dark energy may evolve<\/u> It is a breakthrough that will fundamentally change scientists&#8217; understanding of the universe and its ultimate fate throughout its history.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This image is the result of extensive international cooperation. The project, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy&#8217;s Office of Science, involved more than 900 researchers from more than 70 institutions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">DESI will continue observing the sky until 2028, expanding the map by about 20%. Future observations will target dimmer and more distant galaxies, as well as hard-to-see areas near the Milky Way (where stars get in the way) and the southern sky (where telescopes need to see more of Earth&#8217;s atmosphere). First results from the full dataset are expected in 2027.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Earth seen from the moon. Half of the Earth is illuminated, and the gray surface of the Moon is visible in the foreground.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776673691_229_Largest-3D-map-of-the-universe-ever-shows-47-million.jpeg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Earth seen from the moon. Half of the Earth is illuminated, and the gray surface of the Moon is visible in the foreground.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Artemis II crew recalls the surreal moment Earth disappeared<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 [&amp;&gt;a]:block [&amp;&gt;a]:rounded-full [&amp;&gt;a]:bg-inkwell [&amp;&gt;a]:text-center [&amp;&gt;a+a]:mt-3 sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:inline-block sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:w-3\/4 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-base [&amp;&gt;a]:font-semibold [&amp;&gt;a]:text-white [&amp;&gt;a]:leading-[2.6] sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:leading-[2.75] [&amp;&gt;a]:transition-all [&amp;&gt;a]:duration-150 [&amp;&gt;a]:ease-in-out hover:opacity-90 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-grey-hair hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-starfish sm:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-inkwell sm:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-white dark:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-white dark:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-secondary dark:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob dark:focus:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob dark:active:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob\">view deals<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Image of a spiral galaxy on a speckled black and white background with streams of black material coming out of the galaxy\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776673691_774_Largest-3D-map-of-the-universe-ever-shows-47-million.jpeg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Image of a spiral galaxy on a speckled black and white background with streams of black material coming out of the galaxy<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">First light images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory reveal a 163,000 light-year stream of stars emanating from a nearby galaxy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 [&amp;&gt;a]:block [&amp;&gt;a]:rounded-full [&amp;&gt;a]:bg-inkwell [&amp;&gt;a]:text-center [&amp;&gt;a+a]:mt-3 sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:inline-block sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:w-3\/4 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-base [&amp;&gt;a]:font-semibold [&amp;&gt;a]:text-white [&amp;&gt;a]:leading-[2.6] sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:leading-[2.75] [&amp;&gt;a]:transition-all [&amp;&gt;a]:duration-150 [&amp;&gt;a]:ease-in-out hover:opacity-90 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-grey-hair hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-starfish sm:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-inkwell sm:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-white dark:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-white dark:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-secondary dark:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob dark:focus:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob dark:active:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob\">view deals<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Hundreds of golden and orange clouds trail feather-like trails behind them. Small clouds cover a few scattered bright stars. \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776673691_741_Largest-3D-map-of-the-universe-ever-shows-47-million.jpeg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Hundreds of golden and orange clouds trail feather-like trails behind them. Small clouds cover a few scattered bright stars. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Stunning images from the James Webb Telescope reveal the intricate structure inside the Helix Nebula.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 [&amp;&gt;a]:block [&amp;&gt;a]:rounded-full [&amp;&gt;a]:bg-inkwell [&amp;&gt;a]:text-center [&amp;&gt;a+a]:mt-3 sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:inline-block sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:w-3\/4 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-base [&amp;&gt;a]:font-semibold [&amp;&gt;a]:text-white [&amp;&gt;a]:leading-[2.6] sm:[&amp;&gt;a]:leading-[2.75] [&amp;&gt;a]:transition-all [&amp;&gt;a]:duration-150 [&amp;&gt;a]:ease-in-out hover:opacity-90 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-grey-hair hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-starfish sm:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-inkwell sm:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-white dark:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-white dark:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-secondary dark:hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob dark:focus:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob dark:active:[&amp;&gt;a]:bg-bob\">view deals<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>#Largest #map #universe #shows #million #galaxies #Milky #cosmic #noon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission when you buy through links in our articles. Part of DESI&#8217;s 5th year large-scale structure map of the universe. |Credit: DESI Collaboration and DESI Member Institutions\/DOE\/KPNO\/NOIRLab\/NSF\/AURA\/R. ProctorImage Processing: M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab) simple facts What is it: Largest 3D map of the universe ever created Where &#8230; <a title=\"Largest 3D map of the universe ever shows 47 million galaxies from the Milky Way to &#8216;cosmic noon&#8217;\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/?p=679\" aria-label=\"Read more about Largest 3D map of the universe ever shows 47 million galaxies from the Milky Way to &#8216;cosmic noon&#8217;\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[1445,1442,1443,685,1441,542,880,1444,1096,774,1446,553,789],"class_list":["post-679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cosmic","tag-cosmic-web","tag-digi","tag-galaxies","tag-kitt-peak-national-astronomical-observatory","tag-largest","tag-map","tag-member-institutions","tag-milky","tag-million","tag-noon","tag-shows","tag-universe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=679"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}