Astronomers Unveil a Cosmic Map

The European Space Agency's Euclid mission has just shared its first batch of data. This data includes a sneak peek at deep fields, where hundreds of thousands of galaxies in various shapes and sizes are visible. These galaxies give us a hint of their large-scale organization in the cosmic web. Euclid has already identified 26 million galaxies in just one week of observations. The farthest galaxies spotted are up to 10. 5 billion light-years away. These deep fields also contain bright quasars, which can be seen from even greater distances. Over the next few years, Euclid will scan these regions multiple times, capturing even more distant galaxies and making these fields incredibly detailed by the mission's end in 2030. The initial data covers 63 square degrees of the sky, which is more than 300 times the area of the full Moon. This preview gives a sense of the scale of Euclid's cosmic atlas, which will eventually cover one-third of the entire sky with high-quality detail. Euclid's instruments are designed to measure the shapes and distribution of billions of galaxies with high precision. The visible instrument (VIS) captures detailed images, while the near-infrared instrument (NISP) helps determine galaxy distances and masses. This data is crucial for understanding the mysterious nature of dark matter and dark energy, which make up about 95% of the universe. To handle the vast amount of data, Euclid relies on advanced AI algorithms and human volunteers. Together, they have classified over 380, 000 galaxies, identifying features like spiral arms and central bars. This collaboration is essential for fully exploiting Euclid's dataset and making groundbreaking discoveries. One of the key tools Euclid uses is gravitational lensing, where light from distant galaxies is bent by matter in the foreground. This effect helps reveal the distribution of dark matter. The mission has already identified 500 strong lens candidates, almost all of which were previously unknown. The data released so far is just the beginning. Euclid is expected to capture images of over 1. 5 billion galaxies over six years, sending back around 100 GB of data every day. This wealth of information will help scientists answer fundamental questions about galaxy formation and the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The mission's impact will be far-reaching, from studying galaxy evolution to understanding the larger picture of cosmology. Euclid is truly a goldmine of data, and its discoveries will shape our understanding of the universe for years to come.