Planck

past Mission

Type

Space Telescope

Launch

May 14, 2009

Target

Universe

Objective

Observe radiation from the beginnings of the universe

The Planck satellite spent four years giving us a “baby picture” of the cosmos, by making a high-resolution map of the oldest light in the universe, the cosmic microwave background emitted 13.8 billion years ago when the universe was only 470,000 years old.

Latest News

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News Release
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NASA Awards Multi-Center Administrative Support Services Contract

Image Article
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Atmospheric Probe Takes Flight

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La NASA probará tecnología para medir las singulares ondas de choque del X-59

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NASA Technologies Aim to Solve Housekeeping’s Biggest Issue – Dust

Article11 hours ago
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NASA Outlines Latest Moon to Mars Plans in 2024 Architecture Update

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James Webb Space Telescope

The image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.

Perseverance Rover

Parker Solar Probe

Juno