The European Space Agency’s “Euclid” space telescope aims to better understand dark energy and dark matter. Now the probe sent the first color images to Earth, which provide a detailed insight into space.
“Never before has a telescope been able to capture such razor-sharp astronomical images over such a large part of the sky and see so far into the distant universe,” ESA said on Tuesday. She showed the first images of the probe at the European Space Flight Control Center in Darmstadt and at the space summit in Seville.
Probe is used to investigate dark matter
This is intended to collect data on billions of galaxies, including for research into dark matter and dark energy. The images show the Perseus cluster in the constellation Perseus. According to ESA, the image is a “revolution for astronomy”. It shows 1,000 galaxies in the cluster and more than 100,000 more distant galaxies in the background. Many of these faint galaxies have not been seen before. “Euclide” also took a photo of the famous Horsehead Nebula.
“Images are nicer and sharper than hoped”
“We have never seen such astronomical images, with so much detail,” ESA quoted “Euclide” scientist René Laureijs. “They are even more beautiful and sharper than we had hoped, showing us many previously invisible features in known parts of the nearby universe.”
One of the first galaxies observed “Euclids” is nicknamed the “Hidden Galaxy” (pictured above). Also known as IC 342 or Caldwell 5, this galaxy is difficult to observe because it lies behind the disk of our Milky Way, meaning dust, gas and stars obscure our view of it.
Launched into space in early July
The ‘Euclid’ probe (pictured below) was launched into space in early July. The centerpiece is a high-resolution telescope equipped with two cameras: one for the visible wavelength range and one for the near-infrared range. They are intended to show the movements and shapes of galaxies or to help determine the distance of galaxies.
Data will be used to create a 3D map of space
The ESA wants to take a look into the past of the universe and investigate its development over the past ten billion years. In total, data on billions of galaxies will be collected and a 3D map of space will be created with time as a component. “These outstanding ‘Euclid’ images show that the mission is ready to help provide answers to one of the greatest mysteries in modern physics,” said ESA Science Director Carole Mundell.
Dark matter and dark energy together make up an extremely large part of the universe. All other known components, such as galaxies, make up only about five percent. Until now, science knows little about the two quantities. According to ESA, ‘Euclid’ will record the shape, position and motion of galaxies in detail.
This could provide information about how matter is distributed in space over large distances and how the expansion of the universe has developed over cosmic history. From this, astronomers hope to be able to draw conclusions about the properties of dark energy and dark matter.
Source: Krone
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