ESA’s Euclid mission has released five new images that showcase the telescope’s ability to investigate two major cosmic mysteries: dark matter and dark energy. The images feature various sizes, including star-forming regions. Messier 78, spiral galaxy NGC 6744, galaxy cluster Abel 2390, Abel 2764, and the Dorado Galaxy Group. These images were captured shortly after Euclid’s launch in July 2023 as part of the Early Release Observations Program, along with the mission’s initial scientific data and upcoming research papers.
These images were taken by ESA’s Euclid space telescope. Image credit: ESA / Euclid / Euclid Consortium / NASA / J.-C. Cuillandre, CEA Paris-Saclay / G. Anselmi.
Euclid, the mission built and operated by ESA with NASA’s assistance, is set to launch on July 1, 2023, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
By 2030, the mission will produce a cosmic map covering nearly one-third of the sky using a wider field of view compared to telescopes like Hubble and James Webb Space Telescope. This will enable astronomers to map dark matter presence with unprecedented precision and study the evolution of dark energy over time.
Dr. Valeria Petrino, ESA’s Euclid project scientist, described the released images and data as diverse and noted their significant scientific implications. The research conducted by Euclid aims to uncover the mysteries of the dark universe and understand the universe’s current state.
Source: www.sci.news
