Euclid telescope releases first data on 26 million galaxies

The Euclid space telescope, launched by Europe in 2023, has released its first data. The telescope aims to study dark matter and dark energy, two mysterious forces believed to make up 95% of the universe. It will map one-third of the sky, including 1.5 billion galaxies, to create a detailed 3D map of the universe. Located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, Euclid has previously shared images of unusual galaxies and colorful nebulas. The recent release marks a significant milestone, according to Carole Mundell, the European Space Agency’s science director. The initial data covers less than 0.5% of the sky Euclid aims to explore during its six-year mission and is accompanied by 27 scientific papers. Early findings suggest clues about the universe's structure, known as the "cosmic web." This web consists of clusters of galaxies connected by filaments of material. Scientists believe dark matter helps hold galaxies together while dark energy causes the universe to expand. Euclid allows researchers to observe this balance throughout the universe's history. Despite the excitement, the initial data did not unveil major discoveries about dark matter and dark energy. More significant findings are expected later in Euclid's mission. The telescope's latest release included an impressive 35 terabytes of data from just one week of observations, focusing on three areas that contain 26 million galaxies. Among its findings, Euclid identified around 500 gravitational lenses, which occur when a massive object distorts the light of another object behind it. The research team utilized both artificial intelligence and over 10,000 volunteers to analyze the data. The AI helped identify potential gravitational lenses, which human volunteers later confirmed. This initial release is just a preview, with a full data catalog expected next year. Scientists are eager to continue exploring the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy with the help of the Euclid telescope.