Euclid Space Telescope discovers 2,674 new dwarf galaxies

Astronomers have made a significant discovery using the Euclid Space Telescope, finding 2,674 new dwarf galaxies. This finding could greatly enhance our understanding of how the universe evolves. The Euclid Space Telescope, known as the "dark universe detective," aims to unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Its mission includes creating an extensive 3D map of the cosmos. Recently, researchers from the University of Innsbruck analyzed data from 25 images taken by Euclid and identified the new dwarf galaxies. Dwarf galaxies are much smaller than larger galaxies, containing only a few billion stars. In contrast, larger galaxies can have hundreds of billions. Many dwarf galaxies orbit around bigger ones like our Milky Way, which is home to notable dwarf galaxies, including the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These tiny galaxies form in the early stages of larger galaxies or through collisions between larger galaxies. Dwarf galaxies vary in shape and type. Some are spheroid or spiral, while others are irregular and lack a clear shape. The irregular ones are particularly interesting as they resemble galaxies from the early universe. Studying dwarf galaxies is crucial for understanding galaxy evolution, but they can be hard to detect due to their faintness. The new haul of dwarf galaxies from Euclid is important because researchers not only identified them but also assessed their distances, stellar masses, and surrounding environments. Of the discovered galaxies, 58% are elliptical and 42% are irregular. Only 1% of them are rich in globular clusters, which hold some of the oldest stars in a galaxy. Approximately 4% contain a galactic nucleus, while about 7% are Blue Compact Dwarfs, which have a high rate of star formation. The research team plans to continue using the Euclid Space Telescope to find and study even more dwarf galaxies in the future.