200 most important Astronomy topics - Sykalo Eugen 2023

The Euclid First Data Release

On July 2, 2021, the European Space Agency (ESA) released the first set of data from its Euclid space telescope mission. This release included data on nearly 3 million galaxies and over 100,000 galaxy clusters, providing astronomers with a wealth of information to study the universe.

What is the Euclid mission?

Euclid is a space telescope mission led by ESA, with contributions from NASA and several European countries. Its primary goal is to study dark matter and dark energy, two mysterious phenomena that make up over 95% of the universe's mass-energy content.

The mission was launched in December 2020 and is expected to last for six years. It will survey a large portion of the sky in visible and near-infrared light, mapping the distribution of galaxies and galaxy clusters over time. By studying the growth and evolution of these structures, astronomers hope to better understand the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

What is included in the first data release?

The first data release from Euclid includes observations from the telescope's first six months of operation. It covers a region of the sky known as the Euclid Deep Survey, which is about 40 square degrees in size. This region was chosen because it is relatively free of the effects of the Milky Way's dust and stars, allowing for clearer observations of distant galaxies.

The release includes data on nearly 3 million galaxies, which were detected using Euclid's visible and near-infrared cameras. The data includes information on the galaxies' positions, shapes, brightness, and colors, as well as estimates of their distances from Earth.

In addition, the release includes data on over 100,000 galaxy clusters, which were detected using Euclid's near-infrared camera. Galaxy clusters are groups of hundreds or thousands of galaxies bound together by gravity, and they are important probes of the large-scale structure of the universe.

What can we learn from the first data release?

The first data release from Euclid is a treasure trove of information for astronomers. By studying the properties and distribution of the observed galaxies and galaxy clusters, astronomers can learn more about the evolution of the universe and the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

For example, by measuring the distances to the observed galaxies, astronomers can create a 3D map of the distribution of matter in the universe. This will allow them to study the large-scale structure of the universe and investigate how it has evolved over time.

By studying the properties of the observed galaxy clusters, astronomers can also learn more about the properties of dark matter. Dark matter is thought to be the dominant form of matter in galaxy clusters, and its distribution can be inferred from the observed motions of the cluster's galaxies.

What's next for Euclid?

The first data release from Euclid is just the beginning. Over the next few years, the mission will observe larger regions of the sky and collect even more data on galaxies and galaxy clusters. In addition, the mission will also study other astronomical phenomena, such as supernovae and gravitational lensing.

By the end of its mission, Euclid is expected to have observed over 15,000 square degrees of the sky and collected data on over a billion galaxies. This wealth of information will provide astronomers with unprecedented insights into the nature of the universe and its evolution over time.