Cosmic Atlas: 5.6-Trillion-Pixel Map Reveals 4 Billion Objects Across Most of the Sky

Astronomers using the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys have released the largest 2D map of the universe to date — a 5.6‑trillion‑pixel panorama spanning roughly three‑quarters of the sky and detailing nearly four billion celestial objects. Built from more than 263,000 telescope exposures over a decade and covering visible to near‑infrared wavelengths, the map provides the 2D foundation for DESI’s much larger 3D cosmic map and will aid dark‑energy studies, galaxy evolution research, and training AI systems for future observatories.