Though it’s only about 10% through its five-year mission, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has capped off the first seven months of its survey run by smashing through all previous records for three-dimensional galaxy surveys, creating the largest map of the universe ever.

Ohio State astronomers played a major role in DESI’s development and continue to contribute significantly throughout its operation. During its creation, professor of astronomy Paul Martini managed the testing and integration of the various pieces of equipment used to construct DESI while professor of physics Klaus Honscheid designed the software that keeps the instrument operating.

Additionally, researchers and graduate students from Ohio State’s Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics created software, analyzed data, worked on the fiber-optic positioning system and helped design spectrograph components.

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