The first segment of what promises to be the most extensive 3D map of the universe has been unveiled, showcasing a staggering 14 million galaxies and tens of millions of stars from our own Milky Way in remarkable detail.
This monumental achievement is attributed to the Euclid mission, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2023, with support from NASA.
Initial images were transmitted back in November 2023, followed by more in May 2024.
Euclid’s primary objective is to construct a comprehensive 3D map of the universe, which will provide insights into its evolution and the enigmatic phenomena of dark energy and dark matter, which together constitute 95% of the cosmos.
The latest data comprises a mosaic of 208 gigapixels, covering just 1% of the eventual map.
Stunning images reveal cosmic wonders, including spiral galaxies and galactic cirrus clouds, from Euclid.The complete project is anticipated to span six years, with observations encompassing a third of the night sky, capturing billions of galaxies up to 10 billion light-years away.
Professor Mat Page, lead for Euclid’s visible instrument camera at University College London, emphasized the mission’s unprecedented capabilities, stating, “Before Euclid, we could never image such a vast area of the sky at this level of detail.”
The newly released images reveal previously invisible cosmic features, such as the faint cirrus clouds within the Milky Way, illuminated by countless stars.
These features, comprised of gas and dust, reflect optical light, allowing for their capture by the highly sensitive visible light camera onboard Euclid.
As the mission progresses, scientists expect an astronomical wealth of discoveries, including detailed views of spiral galaxies like NGC 2188 and galaxy clusters like Abell 3381, heralding a new era in our understanding of the universe.