A Stellar Achievement in Astronomy

In a monumental recognition of astronomical innovation, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) has awarded the prestigious 2026 Lancelot M. Berkeley-New York Community Trust Prize to the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration.

Mapping the Cosmos Like Never Before

This groundbreaking collaboration, involving over 750 researchers from more than 70 institutions worldwide—including prominent figures from the University of California, Santa Cruz—is being honored for its transformative work. DESI has created the largest 3D map of the universe, allowing scientists to delve into the effects of dark energy across the cosmos.

Pioneering Publications and Collaborations

A highlight of DESI's accomplishments includes a pivotal publication released in March that showcases the first three years of operations, analyzing over 14 million galaxies and quasars. This research aims to test currently leading cosmological models and potentially redefine our understanding of the universe.

Key Contributors Making Waves

Leading this innovative initiative from UC Santa Cruz are professors Alexie Leauthaud-Harnett, Connie Rockosi, and J. Xavier Prochaska, all esteemed members of the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics. Leauthaud, serving as co-spokesperson, stated, "This prize is a testament to the incredible success of the DESI team and these potentially paradigm-shifting results on the nature of dark energy."

High-Tech Instrumentation at Work

DESI operates on the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Arizona’s Kitt Peak National Observatory. This cutting-edge instrument is designed to capture light from 5,000 galaxies simultaneously and is funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Unraveling the Mystery of Dark Energy

The scientific ambition of DESI is nothing short of revolutionary. Over a five-year span, it has mapped galaxies and quasars up to a staggering 11 billion light years away, aiming to unravel the enigma of dark energy—a mysterious force that potentially dominates the universe’s mass-energy composition.

A Monumental Collaborative Achievement

Dawn Gelino, AAS Senior Vice President, lauded DESI's remarkable contributions, remarking, "DESI’s record-breaking map of the universe is transforming our understanding of dark energy and the cosmos itself. This prize recognizes a monumental collaborative achievement that will guide cosmological models for decades to come."