\n The Euclid space telescope. \n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\nIts visible light camera will let it measure the shape of galaxies, while its near infrared spectrometer and photometer will allow it to measure how far away they are.\n<\/p>\n
So how will Euclid try to spot things that cannot be seen? By searching for their absence.\n<\/p>\n
The light coming from billions of light years away is slightly distorted by the mass of visible and dark matter along the way, a phenomenon known as weak gravitational lensing.\n<\/p>\n
“By subtracting the visible matter, we can calculate the presence of the dark matter which is in between,” Racca told AFP.\n<\/p>\n
While this may not reveal the true nature of dark matter, scientists hope it will throw up new clues that will help track it down in the future.\n<\/p>\n
For dark energy, French astrophysicist David Elbaz compared the expansion of the universe to blowing up a balloon with lines drawn on it.\n<\/p>\n
By “seeing how fast it inflates,” scientists hope to measure the breath\u2014or dark energy\u2014making it expand.<\/p>\n
‘Goldmine’<\/h2>\n A major difference between Euclid and other space telescopes is its wide field of view, which takes in an area equivalent to two full moons.\n<\/p>\n
Project scientist Rene Laureijs said that this wider view means Euclid will be able to “surf the sky and find exotic objects” like black holes that the Webb telescope can then investigate in greater detail.\n<\/p>\n
Beyond dark energy and matter, Euclid’s map of the universe is expected to be a “goldmine for the whole field of astronomy,” said Yannick Mellier, head of the Euclid consortium.\n<\/p>\n
Scientists hope Euclid’s data will help them learn more about the evolution of galaxies, black holes and more.\n<\/p>\n
The first images are expected once scientific operations start in October, with major data releases planned for 2025, 2027 and 2030.\n<\/p>\n
The 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) mission is intended to run until 2029, but could last a little longer if all goes well.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u00a9 2023 AFP\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCitation<\/strong>: \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEurope’s space telescope to target universe’s dark mysteries (2023, July 1) \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 1 July 2023 \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Euclid spacecraft, pictured before being sent to Florida, will blast off on a mission to find out more about the ‘dark universe’ Europe’s Euclid space telescope is scheduled to blast off Saturday on the first-ever mission aiming to shed light on two of the universe’s greatest mysteries: dark energy and dark matter. The launch …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Europe's space telescope to target universe's dark mysteries - Innovation Discoveries<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n