SPHEREx Maps Cosmic Ices as Rubin Finds 11,000 Asteroids in Early 2026

NASA’s SPHEREx mission released initial data on April 20, 2026, mapping cosmic ices and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons across Milky Way regions. Vera C. Rubin Observatory identified 11,000 new asteroids prior to its Legacy Survey of Space and Time. These U.S.-led developments bolster space observation capabilities, impacting planetary formation studies and asteroid defense.