The European House Company (ESA) has a brand new mission, Euclid, set to discover the darkish universe. Euclid is called after an historic Greek mathematician. It launched successfully from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as we speak at 11:12 EDT (July 1, 2023). The mission’s purpose is to create the biggest, most correct 3D map of our universe. Additionally, scientists will use it to watch galaxies out to 10 billion light-years, masking greater than 1/3 of the sky. These observations ought to assist astronomers to higher perceive the universe’s growth and construction over time, offering perception to the character of dark matter and darkish power.
Darkish matter and darkish power are two big elementary holes in our understanding of the universe. Dark matter makes up about 25% of the universe, however we don’t know what it’s. Furthermore, we solely understand it exists as a result of we will see the consequences it has on different objects. And practically 70% of the universe appears to be made from dark energy, an unknown pressure that’s inflicting the universe to broaden. (A recent study mentioned maybe black holes are the supply of darkish power.) That leaves the odd matter we see – stars and galaxies, and so forth. – as solely about 5% of the universe.
The launch
Euclid launched on a Falcon 9 rocket at 11:12 EDT on July 1, 2023. ESA known as the launch a success after the Euclid spacecraft separated from the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. You possibly can watch a replay of the launch beneath.
Euclid mission will reside at L2
The Euclid spacecraft will journey to its future residence on the sun-Earth Lagrange point 2. By the way in which, Lagrange level 2 is 930,000 miles (1.5 million km) from Earth. Chances are you’ll be accustomed to it as the house of the Webb space telescope. The L2 place permits a spacecraft to be shut sufficient to speak with Earth, obtain sufficient solar energy, and nonetheless peer into deep space.
Devices onboard
Euclid will carry two science devices. The primary is a visible-wavelength digicam, or VIS. Additionally, it can carry a near-infrared spectrometer and photometer, or NISP. Subsequently, Euclid ought to present wonderful high quality imaging in seen wavelengths, plus spectroscopy and photometry in near-infrared. Study extra about Euclid’s devices within the illustration beneath.
A quest to reply 5 mysteries
Euclid is trying to deal with 5 mysteries:
- What’s the construction and historical past of the cosmic internet?
- What’s the nature of dark matter?
- How has the growth of the universe modified over time?
- What’s the nature of darkish power?
- Is our understanding of gravity full?
When will Euclid start mapping?
Euclid ought to arrive in L2 orbit about 4 weeks after launch. Then, for about three months, the devices will undergo a testing phase. Lastly, Euclid needs to be able to survey the universe round three months from now.
What is going to the Euclid mission see and measure?
Backside line: ESA’s Euclid mission will journey to its residence at L2, the place it can make a 3D map of the universe. And scientists hope to make use of its observations to study extra about dark matter and darkish power.
