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Where galaxies dance in the cosmic ballet, lies a mystery shrouded in darkness. This mystery, composed of dark matter and dark energy, governs the very fabric of our universe. To unravel its secrets, scientists have turned their gaze to the heavens, launching missions into the depths of space. One such mission, named Euclid after the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid of Alexandria, seeks to illuminate the dark corners of the cosmos and bring clarity to the enigmatic forces at play.
The Mission
Euclid, launched in July 2023, represents a monumental effort to explore the evolution of the dark Universe. Named in honor of Euclid of Alexandria, who laid the foundations of geometry over two millennia ago, this mission aims to create a three-dimensional map of the cosmos, stretching billions of light-years across space and time. By observing billions of galaxies, spanning more than a third of the sky and extending up to 10 billion light-years away, Euclid endeavors to shed light on the nature of dark matter, dark energy (stay tuned, we'll talk about this!), and the fundamental laws that govern the universe.
Euclid's questions
At the heart of Euclid's mission lies a quest to answer some of the most profound questions in cosmology. What is the structure and history of the cosmic web? What is the true nature of dark matter and dark energy? How has the expansion of the universe evolved over cosmic time? Is our understanding of gravity complete? These questions, central to ESA's Cosmic Vision program, drive Euclid's scientific endeavors and push the boundaries of human knowledge.
The Spacecraft
The Euclid spacecraft, standing approximately 4.7 meters tall and 3.7 meters in diameter, comprises two major components: the service module and the payload module. Housing a 1.2-meter-diameter telescope and two cutting-edge scientific instruments—the visible-wavelength camera (VIS) and the near-infrared camera/spectrometer (NISP)—Euclid is equipped to capture images and spectra of cosmic phenomena with unprecedented precision.
Launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, Euclid will journey to its operational orbit, a halo around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2 (L2), situated 1.5 million kilometers beyond Earth's orbit. Do you remember any other space telescope currently operating in this point?
Hint: give a look at our previous articles!
This strategic vantage point provides a stable platform for observing the cosmos, free from the distortions of Earth's atmosphere and interference from terrestrial light sources.
The goals
With a nominal mission lifetime of six years, Euclid aims to gather a wealth of data to unravel the mysteries of the dark universe. Its observations will offer insights into the cosmic web's intricate tapestry, the elusive properties of dark matter and dark energy, and the fundamental forces shaping the cosmos. Moreover, Euclid's collaborative efforts, involving over 2000 scientists from 300 institutes across 13 countries, underscore the global endeavor to explore the universe's mysteries.
As Euclid embarks on its cosmic journey, it carries with it the hopes and aspirations of generations past and present. From the ancient teachings of Euclid to the cutting-edge technology of the modern era, this mission embodies humanity's insatiable curiosity and relentless pursuit of knowledge. With each image captured and each spectrum analyzed, Euclid brings us one step closer to unlocking the secrets of the universe and unraveling the mysteries of the dark cosmos.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Euclid represents a triumph of human ingenuity and scientific collaboration, poised to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos. As it embarks on its mission to explore the dark universe, Euclid stands as a testament to humanity's quest for discovery and our unyielding determination to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos.
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