What type of data format does SPHEREx produce for every point in the sky?
Answer
A spectral data cube containing both spatial and spectral information
Unlike traditional photography, which captures only brightness and location, this mission creates a data cube. Each pixel in this cube represents a full spectrum, illustrating how brightness changes across more than 100 different spectral bands. This barcode-like information allows astronomers to determine the specific chemical composition of the objects being observed in that region of the sky.
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