The Galactic Bulge Time-Domain Survey will focus on the Milky Way's core, using microlensing to discover new planets, including those in habitable zones, and to observe stellar properties through phenomena like starquakes.

The Roman telescope is set to launch by May 2027, with preparations currently underway at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and there is potential for an earlier launch as soon as October 2026.

All data from Roman's surveys will be made publicly available immediately after processing, ensuring widespread access to new cosmic information and promoting broad scientific exploration.

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has unveiled detailed plans for three core surveys aimed at exploring significant astrophysical mysteries and enhancing our understanding of the universe.

The High-Latitude Wide-Area Survey will cover 5,000 square degrees of sky, imaging over a billion galaxies to analyze the distribution of galaxies and the effects of dark energy and dark matter.

The High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey will observe specific regions repeatedly to monitor changes in celestial objects, enabling studies of supernovae and black hole events.

This survey will also detect events like merging neutron stars and flares from stars falling into black holes, enabling open-ended exploration of celestial dynamics.

Gail Zasowski, co-chair of the Roman Observations Time Allocation Committee, emphasized that the surveys' design is driven by input from the astronomical community to maximize scientific output.

Julie McEnery, Roman's senior project scientist, noted that over 1,000 scientists contributed to the survey design, allowing for a wide range of cosmic studies.

These surveys will address fundamental questions regarding dark energy, dark matter, and the demographics of exoplanets, with contributions from over 1,000 scientists across 350 institutions worldwide.

The main three surveys will account for 75% of the mission's observations over five years, with the remaining 25% reserved for future proposals from the scientific community.

The Roman telescope's wide and deep surveys are designed to maximize scientific applications and have broad appeal within the astronomical community.