200 most important Astronomy topics - Sykalo Eugen 2023


The Euclid Mission

The Euclid mission is an ambitious project of the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at unraveling some of the most profound mysteries of the universe. The mission is named after the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid, who is famous for his work on geometry.

Overview of the Mission

The Euclid mission is an ambitious project that aims to unravel some of the most profound mysteries of the universe. Specifically, the mission is focused on studying the dark universe, which is composed of dark matter and dark energy. Dark matter is a mysterious substance that does not interact with light, and we can only detect its presence through its gravitational effects on visible matter. Dark energy, on the other hand, is a hypothetical form of energy that permeates the entire universe and is responsible for its accelerating expansion.

The Euclid mission will achieve its objectives through a combination of two complementary techniques: weak gravitational lensing and galaxy clustering. Weak gravitational lensing is a phenomenon that occurs when the path of light from a distant galaxy is bent by the gravitational pull of a massive object, such as a galaxy cluster. By measuring the slight distortion of the galaxy's shape, astronomers can determine the amount of dark matter in the galaxy cluster and its distribution.

Galaxy clustering refers to the tendency of galaxies to cluster together in certain regions of the universe. By studying the distribution of galaxies, astronomers can reconstruct the history of the universe and the role of dark energy in its expansion. The Euclid mission will use a suite of state-of-the-art instruments to achieve its scientific objectives. The primary instrument is the Euclid telescope, which has a 1.2-meter mirror and a wide field of view. The telescope will be equipped with two scientific instruments: the visible imager (VIS) and the near-infrared spectro-photometer (NISP).

The VIS instrument will observe visible light, while the NISP instrument will observe near-infrared light. Both instruments are essential for studying the dark universe, as they can detect the faint light emitted by distant galaxies. In addition to the telescope, the Euclid mission will also use a set of ancillary instruments, such as the Euclid Near-Infrared Channel (ENIC) and the Euclid High-Resolution Channel (EHRC). These instruments will provide additional data to complement the observations made by the primary instruments.

The Euclid mission is a groundbreaking project that promises to shed light on some of the most profound mysteries of the universe. With its advanced instruments and ambitious science goals, the mission is poised to make significant contributions to our understanding of the dark universe. It is an excellent example of how international collaborations can push the boundaries of scientific research and inspire future generations of scientists.

The Instruments

The Euclid telescope, with its 1.2-meter mirror and wide field of view, is the primary instrument for the Euclid mission. It will be equipped with two scientific instruments: the visible imager (VIS) and the near-infrared spectro-photometer (NISP). The VIS instrument will observe visible light, while the NISP instrument will observe near-infrared light. Both instruments are essential for studying the dark universe, as they can detect the faint light emitted by distant galaxies.

The visible imager (VIS) will be able to observe light in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. It has a field of view of 0.6 square degrees, which is roughly equivalent to the area covered by the full moon. The VIS instrument has a resolution of 0.1 arcseconds, which is about 300 times better than the resolution of the human eye. This high resolution will allow astronomers to study the shapes and sizes of galaxies in great detail, which is essential for studying the distribution of dark matter in the universe.

The near-infrared spectro-photometer (NISP) will be able to observe light in the near-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. It has a field of view of 0.5 square degrees, which is slightly smaller than the field of view of the VIS instrument. The NISP instrument has a resolution of 0.3 arcseconds, which is about 1000 times better than the resolution of the human eye. This high resolution will allow astronomers to study the spectra of distant galaxies, which can provide information about their composition, age, and distance.

In addition to the primary instruments, the Euclid mission will also use a set of ancillary instruments, such as the Euclid Near-Infrared Channel (ENIC) and the Euclid High-Resolution Channel (EHRC). ENIC is a near-infrared camera that will provide additional data on the near-infrared sky. EHRC is a set of filters that will allow astronomers to study the properties of galaxies in more detail. These ancillary instruments will provide additional data to complement the observations made by the primary instruments, allowing astronomers to study the dark universe in even greater detail.

The Science Goals

The Euclid mission has several ambitious science goals that go beyond just studying dark matter and dark energy. By studying the distribution of galaxies in the universe, astronomers can reconstruct the history of the universe's evolution and the formation of galaxies. The Euclid mission aims to provide insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies, which will help us understand the complex processes that led to the formation of the universe as we know it today.

Another science goal of the Euclid mission is to study the large-scale structure of the universe. By studying the distribution of galaxies and their clustering patterns, astronomers can map the cosmic web, which is the large-scale structure of matter in the universe. The cosmic web is composed of massive filaments of dark matter and gas that connect galaxy clusters, and it provides a framework for understanding how the universe evolved from its early beginnings to the present day.

The Euclid mission also aims to study the nature of dark matter. Dark matter is a mysterious substance that does not interact with light, and we can only detect its presence through its gravitational effects on visible matter. By studying the distribution of dark matter in the universe, astronomers can learn more about its properties and its role in the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Finally, the Euclid mission aims to study the properties of dark energy. Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that permeates the entire universe and is responsible for its accelerating expansion. By studying the distribution of galaxies and their clustering patterns, astronomers can determine the role of dark energy in the accelerating expansion of the universe. The Euclid mission aims to provide the most precise measurements of dark energy to date, which will help us understand the nature of this mysterious phenomenon.