Astronomers Release Largest 2D Map of Universe with Nearly 4 Billion Celestial Objects

Astronomers have just revealed an incredible 2D map of the universe, boasting a mind-blowing 5.6 trillion pixels and close to 4 billion celestial objects. This impressive map was created from 263,407 observations made by telescopes, highlighting the brightness and locations of numerous stars and galaxies. Over 160 scientists spent 13 years on this project, combining data from three different sky surveys and NASA's WISE mission. It covers around 75% of the sky and has also led to the development of the largest high-resolution 3D universe map, which is key to studying dark energy's role in cosmic expansion. You can even check out the 2D map online to find specific stars and galaxies, like 51 Peg and Messier 87. Arjun Dey from NSF NOIRLab noted that this project is part of humanity’s ongoing exploration of the night sky. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) wrapped up its five-year survey early in April 2026, mapping over 47 million galaxies and quasars in 3D, while ongoing observations are deepening our understanding of the universe and dark energy.