Astronomers have released the largest 2D map of the universe, containing 5.6 trillion pixels.

What it means

Astronomers have released the largest 2D map of the universe, composed of 5.6 trillion pixels. The map is likely from the DESI Legacy Imaging Survey, covering roughly half the sky and cataloging billions of galaxies. It is a publicly accessible dataset intended for studies of dark energy, galaxy formation, and cosmology.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is reported by Wired, a reputable secondary source, and cites the primary data release (presumably from the DESI collaboration or the Legacy Survey). The pixel count is a straightforward, verifiable figure from the official dataset, making the claim highly reliable.

How new

The article was published on September 7, 2026, so the underlying data release is genuinely new and not resurfaced material.

Go deeper

• Wired article
• Phys.org article