The European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled the first section of the Euclid space telescope's map of the universe, showcasing a monumental 3D cosmic atlas. Presented at the International Astronautical and Space Congress in
Milan, this remarkable achievement highlights a detailed map featuring 14 million galaxies and numerous stars within the Milky Way. Over the next six years, the ESA aims to map one-third of the sky, reaching out to 10 billion light years.
Equipped with advanced cameras for visible and near-infrared wavelengths, Euclid will capture the movements, shapes, and distances of galaxies. The data will help unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, contributing to our understanding of the universe's expansion and matter distribution. The initial 208-gigapixel mosaic includes detailed images of the spiral galaxy NGC 2188, the galaxy cluster Abell 3381, and distant swirling galaxies.
This ambitious project involves over 2,000 scientists and processes 100 gigabytes of data daily. The Euclid mission, a collaboration between ESA and NASA, promises groundbreaking insights into the universe's history and its enigmatic dark components.
