NASA scientists are planning key cosmological surveys with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Operations begin around 2027 to investigate why cosmic expansion is accelerating across the universe.
Image credit: NASA ScienceRecommended as the top large space mission in 2010, Roman features a field of view one hundred times larger than Hubble. It will deliver exceptionally wide and deep infrared views of space.
Image credit: NASA ScienceA planned reference survey spanning two thousand square degrees will map distant structures. It combines deep imaging with spectroscopic galaxy data to trace dark matter and galaxy clustering over time.
Image credit: NASA ScienceIn just seven months of observation, Roman will measure redshifts for roughly ten million galaxies using hydrogen-alpha emission. Measurements will reach out to redshift two and beyond with high density.
Image credit: NASA ScienceBy imaging 370 million lensed galaxies, Roman will constrain cosmic geometry. Combining wide-field imaging with grism spectroscopy enables kinematic lensing, significantly reducing shape noise.
Image credit: NASA ScienceThe telescope will detect up to fifteen thousand Type Ia supernovae across cosmic time. Advanced classification algorithms like SCONE will help map expansion history and constrain dark energy parameters.
Image credit: NASA ScienceCombining weak lensing, supernova light curves, and acoustic scale measurements allows astronomers to cross-check results tightly. This multi-probe approach tests whether gravity itself requires fundamental modifications
Image credit: NASA ScienceResearchers continue refining simulations to eliminate potential environmental biases. New probes like dark matter substructure and lensed quasar time delays will further expand Roman's ultimate cosmological reach.
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