PARIS, France – The European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed the first dataset from its Euclid mission, showcasing a breathtaking array of galaxies, clusters, and deep cosmic fields. These images offer a sneak peek into what is poised to become one of the most extensive cosmic maps ever constructed. The unveiling of this initial Euclid data release provides a glimpse into the rich tapestry of the universe, highlighting the shapes, brightness, and distribution of hundreds of thousands of galaxies. Each observation captured by Euclid sheds light on active galactic nuclei and rare celestial events, offering valuable insights into the forces shaping our Universe.
The Euclid mission, in a monumental feat, mapped 63 square degrees of the galaxy-filled sky in just one week, equivalent to 300 full Moons. This endeavor resulted in the capture of over 26 million galaxies, including quasars located up to 10.5 billion light-years away. The ambitious plan for Euclid includes scanning each of the three deep regions between 30 to 52 times before the year 2030, ultimately culminating in the creation of a final sky map covering one-third of the sky, approximately 14,000 square degrees. These repeated scans will contribute to the development of a highly detailed 3D cosmic atlas, aiding researchers in unraveling the mysteries of galaxy formation and the influence of dark matter on their evolution.
The latest observations from Euclid have further refined our understanding of the universe’s large-scale structure, revealing the presence of filaments comprising normal and dark matter that extend across space like a vast web. These filaments serve as the birthplace and evolution grounds for galaxies, with Euclid’s advanced instruments delivering precise measurements of galaxy shapes and distances in the visible and near-infrared spectrums. The extensive dataset generated by Euclid poses a challenge in terms of processing, as it generates 100 GB of data daily. To tackle this influx of information, scientists are employing AI models and citizen science to classify over 380,000 galaxies based on shape and features, with the assistance of innovative algorithms like Zoobot.
Furthermore, Euclid’s exploration has led to the discovery of over 500 potential strong gravitational lenses through the utilization of AI and human volunteers, providing valuable insights into the distribution of dark matter across the Universe and its impact on the formation of galaxies. By the mission’s conclusion, it is expected to identify around 100,000 strong lenses, significantly expanding our current knowledge in this field. Euclid’s collaborative approach involving AI, citizen science, and expert input aims to facilitate groundbreaking discoveries in the realm of astrophysics.
Looking ahead, the Euclid mission, which commenced in July 2023, has already scanned 2,000 square degrees of encompassed sky, marking the beginning of a transformative journey. The mission is slated to unveil its first complete set of cosmology data in October 2026, featuring repeated observations of the three designated deep fields to offer an in-depth perspective on the most distant regions of the Universe. As Euclid continues to delve into the hidden structures of the cosmos, the possibilities for exploration and discovery remain boundless.