UF Astronomer Contributes to Creation of Largest 3D Map of the Universe
Zachary Slepian, Ph.D., an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Florida, is part of an international collaboration that has developed the largest high-resolution three-dimensional map of the universe. This effort is part of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey, a five-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The map charts the positions of over 47 million galaxies and quasars, providing insights into billions of years of cosmic history. DESI, mounted on the Nicholas U. Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, uses 5,000 robotic fiber optic positioners to collect light from thousands of galaxies simultaneously. By analyzing the light's component colors, scientists can measure each galaxy's distance and motion, contributing to the comprehensive 3D map. 
