The Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror reflects an American flag. Its surface is figured to a level hundreds of times finer than a typical household mirror.
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Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will provide clues to help solve some of the greatest mysteries of astrophysics! It will survey planets by the thousands, galaxies by the millions, and stars by the billions, and help answer some of astronomy’s biggest questions.
It will also provide evidence needed to help answer some of astronomy’s biggest questions, such as, “What is the nature of dark energy?” and “What is the large-scale structure of the universe?” It may even help answer questions astronomers don’t yet know to ask!
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror, which will collect and focus light from cosmic objects near and far, has been completed. Using this mirror, Roman will capture stunning space vistas with a field of view 100 times greater than Hubble images.
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Telescope is like a detective whose work will answer many questions—but spawn even more! As a survey telescope in space, Roman will be a pathfinder. It will answer one set of questions, but its work will lead to a whole new set of questions to be answered by the next generations of telescopes!
Crane operators lower the support equipment to move the Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror . Using this mirror, Roman will provide a new view into the universe, helping scientists solve cosmic mysteries related to dark matter, dark energy, and planets around other starsreflects an American flag. Its surface is figured to a level hundreds of times finer than a typical household mirror.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror, which will collect and focus light from cosmic objects near and far, has been completed. Using this mirror, Roman will capture stunning space vistas with a field of view 100 times greater than Hubble images.
L3Harris Technologies
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Members of the Roman Space Telescope team pose with the telescope’s primary mirror at L3 Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York. The telescope just passed a key milestone review, permitting the team to move on to finalizing the telescope design.
Crane operators lower the support equipment to move the Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror. Using this mirror, Roman will provide a new view into the universe, helping scientists solve cosmic mysteries related to dark matter, dark energy, and planets around other stars.
L3Harris Technologies
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This photo shows the setup for space environment testing of the engineering development unit for Roman’s Solar Array Sun Shield, which will serve two purposes. First, it will supply electrical power to the observatory. Second, it will shield the Optical Telescope Assembly, the Wide Field Instrument, and the Coronagraph Instrument from sunlight.
Members of the Roman Space Telescope team pose with the telescope’s primary mirror at L3 Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York. The telescope just passed a key milestone review, permitting the team to move on to finalizing the telescope design.
This photo shows the setup for space environment testing of the engineering development unit for Roman’s Solar Array Sun Shield, which will serve two purposes. First, it will supply electrical power to the observatory. Second, it will shield the Optical Telescope Assembly, the Wide Field Instrument, and the Coronagraph Instrument from sunlight
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This photo shows 18 of Roman's detectors mounted in an engineering test unit of the mission's focal plane array. The focal plane array will be incorporated into Roman's Wide Field Instrument – a 300-megapixel camera that will capture enormous images of the cosmos.
This photo shows 18 of Roman's detectors mounted in an engineering test unit of the mission's focal plane array. The focal plane array will be incorporated into Roman's Wide Field Instrument – a 300-megapixel camera that will capture enormous images of the cosmos.
Greg Mosby holds one of Roman’s detectors (left) and an entire cell phone camera (right) for size comparison. The best modern cell phone cameras can provide around 12-megapixel images, while each of Roman’s detectors contains 16 megapixels. Since Roman’s camera contains 18 detectors, it will capture 300-megapixel panoramas. The mission will conduct sweeping cosmic surveys with the same sharp resolution that the Hubble Space Telescope provides.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Mosaic Plate has 18 detectors, each no larger than a sticky note, that together will capture the widest views of the universe ever taken from space. With these detectors, Roman will take 300-megapixel images of the universe (the average smartphone is around 12 megapixels for comparison. This will allow astronomers to explore a vast array of celestial objects and phenomena, like galaxies, exoplanets, dark matter, and many more.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Mosaic Plate has 18 detectors, each no larger than a sticky note, that together will capture the widest views of the universe ever taken from space. With these detectors, Roman will take 300-megapixel images of the universe (the average smartphone is around 12 megapixels for comparison. This will allow astronomers to explore a vast array of celestial objects and phenomena, like galaxies, exoplanets, dark matter, and many more.
L3Harris Technologies has completed the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's Primary Mirror Assembly (PMA) test and build. The PMA includes Roman's primary mirror and support structure. The mirror is 7.9 feet (2.41 meters) in diameter, the same size as The Hubble Space Telescope mirror, but only one-fourth its weight, coming in at over 400 pounds (181.4 kg)! The mirror will collect light from the cosmos and send it to Roman's Wide Field Instrument and Coronagraph technology demonstration, helping scientists do things like map the structure and distribution of invisible dark matter, study planetary systems around other stars, and explore how the universe evolved to its present state.
L3Harris Technologies has completed the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's Primary Mirror Assembly (PMA) test and build. The PMA includes Roman's primary mirror and support structure. The mirror is 7.9 feet (2.41 meters) in diameter, the same size as The Hubble Space Telescope mirror, but only one-fourth its weight, coming in at over 400 pounds (181.4 kg). The mirror will collect light from the cosmos and send it to Roman's Wide Field Instrument and Coronagraph technology demonstration, helping scientists do things like map the structure and distribution of invisible dark matter, study planetary systems around other stars, and explore how the universe evolved to its present state.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's secondary mirror is being integrated into the flight hardware. Roughly four times smaller than Roman’s primary mirror, the secondary mirror is just 22 inches across (55.9 cm or about the size of a large tire). It’s a critical part of the forward structure assembly, which also includes the support structure. Roman's secondary mirror further focuses the light from the primary mirror and is the last optic before the light beam is split between the two channels for the Wide Field Instrument and the Coronagraph Instrument.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's secondary mirror is being integrated into the flight hardware. Roughly four times smaller than Roman’s primary mirror, the secondary mirror is just 22 inches across (55.9 cm or about the size of a large tire). It’s a critical part of the forward structure assembly, which also includes the support structure. Roman's secondary mirror further focuses the light from the primary mirror and is the last optic before the light beam is split between the two channels for the Wide Field Instrument and the Coronagraph Instrument.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a next-generation space telescope that will survey the infrared universe from beyond the orbit of the Moon. The spacecraft's giant camera, the Wide Field Instrument (WFI), will be fundamental to this exploration. The WFI features the same angular resolution as Hubble but with 100 times the field of view. Data it gathers will enable scientists to discover new and uniquely detailed information about planetary systems around other stars. The WFI will also map how matter is structured and distributed throughout the cosmos, which should ultimately allow scientists to discover the fate of the universe. Watch this video to see a simplified version of how it works.
Watch this video to learn more about the Roman Space Telescope's coronagraph instrument, – a system of masks, prisms, detectors, and even self-flexing mirrors built to block out the glare from distant stars and reveal planets in orbit around them.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Music: "Concept of Motion" from Universe Production Music
This infographic showcases the difference in data volume between the Nancy Grace Roman, Webb and Hubble space telescopes. Each day, Roman will send over 500 times more data back to Earth than Hubble.
This infographic showcases the difference in data volume between the Nancy Grace Roman and Hubble space telescopes. Each day, Roman will send over 500 times more data back to Earth than Hubble.
This infographic showcases the difference in data volume between the Nancy Grace Roman and Hubble space telescopes, using hard drives to symbolize data volume. Each day, Roman will send over 500 times more data back to Earth than Hubble. This version gives the time baseline by which these archival data are collected (30 years for Hubble, 5 years for Roman).
This infographic showcases the difference in data volume between the Nancy Grace Roman and Hubble space telescopes, using hard drives to symbolize data volume. Each day, Roman will send over 500 times more data back to Earth than Hubble. This version leaves off the time baseline by which these archival data are collected (30 years for Hubble, 5 years for Roman).
This simulated image illustrates the wide range of science enabled by Roman's extremely wide field of view and exquisite resolution. The yellow squares, which all contain background imagery simulated using data from Hubble’s Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Survey (CANDELS) program, outline the area Roman can capture in a single observation. A blue square shows the field of view of Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 for comparison. While the CANDELS program took Hubble nearly 21 days to survey in near-infrared light, Roman’s large field of view and higher efficiency would allow it to survey the same area in less than half an hour. Top left: This view illustrates a region of the large nearby spiral galaxy M83. Top right: A hypothetical distant dwarf galaxy appears in this magnified view, demonstrating Roman’s ability to detect small, faint galaxies at large distances. Bottom left: This magnified view illustrates how Roman will be able to resolve bright stars even in the dense cores of globular star clusters. Bottom right: A zoom of the CANDELS-based background shows the density of high-redshift galaxies Roman will detect.
Benjamin Williams, David Weinberg, Anil Seth, Eric Bell, Dave Sand, Dominic Benford, and the WINGS Science Investigation Team
This simulated image illustrates the wide range of science enabled by Roman's extremely wide field of view and exquisite resolution. The purple squares, which all contain background imagery simulated using data from Hubble’s Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Survey (CANDELS) program, outline the area Roman can capture in a single observation. An orange square shows the field of view of Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 for comparison. While the CANDELS program took Hubble nearly 21 days to survey in near-infrared light, Roman’s large field of view and higher efficiency would allow it to survey the same area in less than half an hour. Top left: This view illustrates a region of the large nearby spiral galaxy M83. Top right: A hypothetical distant dwarf galaxy appears in this magnified view, demonstrating Roman’s ability to detect small, faint galaxies at large distances. Bottom left: This magnified view illustrates how Roman will be able to resolve bright stars even in the dense cores of globular star clusters. Bottom right: A zoom of the CANDELS-based background shows the density of high-redshift galaxies Roman will detect.
Benjamin Williams, David Weinberg, Anil Seth, Eric Bell, Dave Sand, Dominic Benford, and the WINGS Science Investigation Team
This simulated image illustrates the wide range of science enabled by Roman's extremely wide field of view and exquisite resolution. The purple squares, which all contain background imagery simulated using data from Hubble’s Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Survey (CANDELS) program, outline the area Roman can capture in a single observation. An orange square shows the field of view of Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 for comparison. While the CANDELS program took Hubble nearly 21 days to survey in near-infrared light, Roman’s large field of view and higher efficiency would allow it to survey the same area in less than half an hour. Top left: This view illustrates a region of the large nearby spiral galaxy M83. Top right: A hypothetical distant dwarf galaxy appears in this magnified view, demonstrating Roman’s ability to detect small, faint galaxies at large distances. Bottom left: This magnified view illustrates how Roman will be able to resolve bright stars even in the dense cores of globular star clusters. Bottom right: A zoom of the CANDELS-based background shows the density of high-redshift galaxies Roman will detect.
Benjamin Williams, David Weinberg, Anil Seth, Eric Bell, Dave Sand, Dominic Benford, and the WINGS Science Investigation Team
This simulated image illustrates the wide range of science enabled by Roman's extremely wide field of view and exquisite resolution. The purple squares, which all contain background imagery simulated using data from Hubble’s Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Survey (CANDELS) program, outline the area Roman can capture in a single observation. An orange square shows the field of view of Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 for comparison. While the CANDELS program took Hubble nearly 21 days to survey in near-infrared light, Roman’s large field of view and higher efficiency would allow it to survey the same area in less than half an hour. Top left: This view illustrates a region of the large nearby spiral galaxy M83. Top right: A hypothetical distant dwarf galaxy appears in this magnified view, demonstrating Roman’s ability to detect small, faint galaxies at large distances. Bottom left: This magnified view illustrates how Roman will be able to resolve bright stars even in the dense cores of globular star clusters. Bottom right: A zoom of the CANDELS-based background shows the density of high-redshift galaxies Roman will detect.
Benjamin Williams, David Weinberg, Anil Seth, Eric Bell, Dave Sand, Dominic Benford, and the WINGS Science Investigation Team
This simulated image illustrates the wide range of science enabled by Roman's extremely wide field of view and exquisite resolution. The purple squares, which all contain background imagery simulated using data from Hubble’s Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Survey (CANDELS) program, outline the area Roman can capture in a single observation. An orange square shows the field of view of Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 for comparison. While the CANDELS program took Hubble nearly 21 days to survey in near-infrared light, Roman’s large field of view and higher efficiency would allow it to survey the same area in less than half an hour. Top left: This view illustrates a region of the large nearby spiral galaxy M83. Top right: A hypothetical distant dwarf galaxy appears in this magnified view, demonstrating Roman’s ability to detect small, faint galaxies at large distances. Bottom left: This magnified view illustrates how Roman will be able to resolve bright stars even in the dense cores of globular star clusters. Bottom right: A zoom of the CANDELS-based background shows the density of high-redshift galaxies Roman will detect.
Benjamin Williams, David Weinberg, Anil Seth, Eric Bell, Dave Sand, Dominic Benford, and the WINGS Science Investigation Team
This illustration compares the relative sizes of the areas of sky covered by two surveys: Roman’s High Latitude Wide Area Survey, outlined in blue, and the largest mosaic led by Hubble, the Cosmological Evolution Survey (COSMOS), shown in red. In current plans, the Roman survey will be more than 1,000 times broader than Hubble’s. Roman will also explore more distant realms of space than most other telescopes have probed in previous efforts to study why the expansion of the universe is speeding up.
The Hubble image of a portion of the GOODS-South field (left) required multiple individual exposures that were stitched into a mosaic. The Roman Space Telescope will have a field of view (right) at least 100 times greater than Hubble, allowing it to capture data on thousands of galaxies in a single exposure.
IMAGE: NASA, ESA IMAGE PROCESSING: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Pascal Oesch (University of Geneva), Mireia Montes (UNSW), DSS
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, ESA IMAGE PROCESSING: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Pascal Oesch (University of Geneva), Mireia Montes (UNSW), DSS
The Roman Space Telescope is designed for large surveys of the sky. This animation gives a sense of the scale of just one of Roman’s potential survey areas, which would span an area of 2,000 square degrees – about 10,000 times the size of the full Moon.
NASA, IPAC, Robert L. Hurt (IPAC)
Acknowledgement: This animation has made use of the Stellarium planetarium.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a clue-hunter. As a survey mission, Roman will observe areas of the sky repeatedly, much like going back to the room multiple times to look for new details, or details that may have changed. It will cast a wide net with Hubble Space Telescope-quality data, but with 200 times Hubble’s infrared field of view! The infrared Roman mission will greatly expand our view of the universe, and it will provide many more clues to help solve some the greatest mysteries of astrophysics.
Like a detective who shares clues, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will provide open access and analysis of its data to scientists everywhere! It will democratize data access, making its information available to researchers when and where they want it. As a survey mission, its wide eye can take in an enormous amount information at one time. This data can address very specific questions, but scientists also can use the data to search for clues to other mysteries.
The Roman Space Telescope is designed for large surveys of the sky. This animation gives a sense of the scale of just one of Roman’s potential survey areas, which would span an area of 2,000 square degrees – about 10,000 times the size of the full Moon.
As a survey mission, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will collect Hubble-quality data but with 200 times Hubble’s infrared field of view. It will view planets by the thousands, galaxies by the millions, and stars by the billions. It will transmit almost 1,400 gigabytes of information to the ground each day—more than the storage space of an average home computer.
For comparison, the Hubble Space Telescope sends less than 3 gigabytes a day, and the James Webb Space Telescope sends less than 60 gigabytes. After just five years of observing, Roman will have delivered 20,000 terabytes! All of this data will provide a treasure trove of information to scientists for many years to come.
Illustration: J. Kang/STScI
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NASA, IPAC, Robert L. Hurt (IPAC)
Acknowledgement: This animation has made use of the Stellarium planetarium.
Every ten years the astronomy community evaluates the top priorities for future science and what missions can best address them – called the Decadal Review. This figure highlights the prioritized large space-based missions for previous decadal reviews. The dates listed are the launch dates for each mission.
Comparison of Hubble and expected Rubin Observatory LSST data resolution. (L) BVz color image from the Hubble CANDELS field with θ = 0.1” and r ≈ 28.5. Roman will have comparable resolution. (R) Simulated Rubin LSST image made by degrading Hubble data to Rubin resolution of θ = 0.6”. In the Rubin image, the galaxy is blended with surrounding objects. Correlating overlapping Rubin and Roman imagery would make it possible to develop machine learning algorithms to deblend Rubin imagery that does not overlap with Roman.
Clean version.
Image from B.E. Robertson, et al. 2019, Nat Rev Phys, 1, 450
Comparison of Hubble and expected Rubin Observatory LSST data resolution. (L) BVz color image from the Hubble CANDELS field with θ = 0.1” and r ≈ 28.5. Roman will have comparable resolution. (R) Simulated Rubin LSST image made by degrading Hubble data to Rubin resolution of θ = 0.6”. In the Rubin image, the galaxy is blended with surrounding objects. Correlating overlapping Rubin and Roman imagery would make it possible to develop machine learning algorithms to deblend Rubin imagery that does not overlap with Roman.
Annotated version.
Image from B.E. Robertson, et al. 2019, Nat Rev Phys, 1, 450
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will partner with other observatories such as JWST, the Hubble Space Telescope, and Vera Rubin Observatory to help solve some of the universe’s greatest mysteries. The synergy will produce results greater than anything that could be achieved by any one telescope.