NASA’s Roman Space Telescope team has announced its plans for the Galactic Plane Survey to map the Milky Way galaxy in unprecedented detail. This major survey will span one month of observations over two years, revealing tens of billions of stars and exploring previously uncharted structures within our galaxy.
The Galactic Plane Survey marks a significant step forward in our understanding of the Milky Way. Led by Julie McEnery, Roman’s senior project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, this survey will provide invaluable insights into the far side of our galaxy and its star-studded core. The breadth and depth of the survey are projected to be a scientific treasure trove for astronomers, offering a unique opportunity to explore and learn more about our galactic home.
This survey is part of Roman’s first general astrophysics program, alongside its three core surveys and Coronagraph technology demonstration. With at least 25% of Roman’s primary mission time allocated for astronomers worldwide to propose additional surveys, the telescope aims to conduct groundbreaking research beyond its core programs. Scheduled for launch no later than May 2027, the team is working towards an earlier launch in fall 2026 to kickstart this transformative exploration of the Milky Way.