Euclid telescope releases first major dataset of 900 million galaxies

The European Space Agency (ESA) has published the first major dataset from its Euclid space telescope, a mission designed to unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. The release includes clear images capturing the light of more than a billion celestial objects, among them around 900 million galaxies.

Euclid was launched in 2023 to create the most detailed 3D map of the universe ever made. By observing the shapes, distances and motions of billions of galaxies, the telescope aims to shed light on how the universe has expanded and how its large-scale structure formed. The newly released images are the first substantial batch from the mission, allowing scientists worldwide to study galaxy clusters, faint distant galaxies and the effects of dark matter in unprecedented detail.

The dataset is expected to keep astronomers busy for years. Because dark matter does not emit or absorb light, its presence is inferred from the way it bends light from galaxies behind it, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. Euclid’s high-precision images make these subtle distortions easier to detect. The data will also help refine models of cosmic acceleration driven by dark energy.

For sky-watchers in Bulgaria and beyond, the release marks a step forward in our understanding of the cosmos. The full dataset is freely accessible to researchers, and ESA plans to publish regular updates as the mission continues its six-year survey of the sky.