First light from the Euclid telescope

  • B
  • Thread starter Filip Larsen
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Telescope
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
Kind of a boring image. Can you say what is different about this telescope? :wink:

1699494267915.png
 

Attachments

  • 1699494189413.png
    1699494189413.png
    127.4 KB · Views: 52
  • #4
berkeman said:
Kind of a boring image.
Well, the post was to tell about first light and less about showing a pretty picture, although I admit I probably did pick the Horsehead Nebula because it is always pretty.

Given Euclids mission I guess it would have been more appropriate to show a wide field like this:
1699513998367.png
This sparkly image shows Euclid’s view on a globular cluster called NGC 6397. This is the second-closest globular cluster to Earth, located about 7800 light-years away. Globular clusters are collections of hundreds of thousands of stars held together by gravity. Currently no other telescope than Euclid can observe an entire globular cluster in one single observation, and at the same time distinguish so many stars in the cluster. These faint stars tell us about the history of the Milky Way and where dark matter is located.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Likes collinsmark, DennisN, pinball1970 and 1 other person
  • #5
Now that's a pretty picture!
 

1. What is "First Light" in the context of the Euclid telescope?

"First Light" refers to the initial set of data or images captured by a telescope after it becomes operational. For the Euclid telescope, this marks the moment when it first begins its mission of observing the universe, specifically focusing on dark matter and dark energy.

2. What is the main mission of the Euclid telescope?

The primary mission of the Euclid telescope is to map the geometry of the dark universe. It aims to understand the roles and distribution of dark matter and dark energy by surveying galaxies over the entire extragalactic sky. This helps in understanding the evolution of cosmic structures and the expansion of the universe.

3. When did the Euclid telescope achieve its "First Light"?

The exact date of "First Light" for the Euclid telescope can vary depending on the final deployment and operational commencement. It is scheduled to launch in the 2020s, with "First Light" expected shortly after it reaches its operational orbit and completes its initial calibration phase.

4. How will the data from Euclid's "First Light" be used?

Data from Euclid's "First Light" will be used to test and calibrate the telescope's instruments to ensure they are functioning as expected. This initial data is crucial for validating the telescope's capabilities in capturing accurate and detailed observations, which will be critical for its long-term mission to study the dark universe.

5. What makes the Euclid telescope different from other space telescopes?

The Euclid telescope is specifically designed to map the dark universe by measuring the shapes and redshifts of galaxies at a scale and precision that is unprecedented. Unlike telescopes that focus on visible light or specific phenomena, Euclid is optimized to explore dark energy and dark matter, which are invisible yet constitute most of the universe's mass-energy content.

Similar threads

B Ultramassive Black Hole (UMB), 30 billion solar masses?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
4
Views
1K
I Gaia vs DESI: Comparing Largest Star Maps Ever
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
1K
JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) on it's way to Jupiter
    • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
9
Views
1K
I What does the output of a radio telescope look like?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
3
Views
2K
I Phase Contrast Telescope - Part II
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
25
Views
1K
Stargazing Documenting the setup of my new telescope
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
Stargazing Fixing declination runaway on a Meade LX200 telescope
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
6
Views
2K
Stargazing Is the Hubble Space Telescope Dead?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
12
Views
1K
Stargazing Calculating the Resolving power of a Telescope
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
7
Views
2K
Diffraction Effects and Artifacts in Telescopes like the JWST
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
4
Replies
125
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top