Planck
Planck
Designed to study ancient radiation from the big bang, the Planck space telescope was a European Space Agency mission that aimed to better understand the origin of the universe and the formation of galaxies.
Visit Mission WebsitePlanck
Designed to study ancient radiation from the big bang, the Planck space telescope was a European Space Agency mission that aimed to better understand the origin of the universe and the formation of galaxies.
Visit Mission WebsiteLaunch Date
May 14, 2009
Type
OrbiterTarget
Stars and GalaxiesStatus
PastDesigned to study ancient radiation from the big bang, the Planck space telescope was a European Space Agency mission that aimed to better understand the origin of the universe and the formation of galaxies. Planck produced its first all-sky image in 2010, and scientists are currently working to analyze and parse the various and complex elements. Analysis has already highlighted numerous star-forming clouds across the Milky Way galaxy as well as a previously invisible population of galaxies covered in dust billions of years old.
NASA had significant participation in the Planck mission, which used instruments from the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Instruments