WISE sees its first stars

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By Lisa Grossman

January 6, 2010 at 4:41 pm - More than 2 years ago

NASA’s WISE eyes are open.

NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer took its first image, capturing 3,000 stars in the constellation Carina. When its nine-month mission ends in October 2010, the telescope will have imaged the entire sky one and a half times. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/WISE Team — FIRST LIGHT NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer took its first image, capturing 3,000 stars in the constellation Carina. When its nine-month mission ends in October 2010, the telescope will have imaged the entire sky one and a half times. NASA/JPL-Caltech/WISE Team

After a successful launch on December 14, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer is poised to begin the most thorough survey yet of the infrared universe.