Dark Energy & The New Euclid Telescope

Get ready for a groundbreaking space mission! The Euclid telescope is about to launch and it has the power to unravel the mysteries of the universe. By scanning billions of galaxies and diving into the cosmic time of the past 10 billion years, Euclid will provide astrophysicists with valuable data to understand dark matter and dark energy.

This space probe is not just an ordinary telescope. It's a dark energy detector, as explained by René Laureijs, the mission's project scientist. After years of hard work, the European Space Agency (ESA) is gearing up for liftoff on July 1. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will propel Euclid into space, offering a fascinating journey to explore the unknown.

Science is fascinating in two senses: the mysteries it continues to unlock for us and how much faster we as human have gotten at unlocking said mysteries. Outer space is an area where it seems we are making rapid and fascinatinating discoveries such as: new planets, black holes and so much more.

Once in orbit, Euclid will survey a significant portion of the sky, covering everything except the Milky Way. This comprehensive coverage will allow scientists to study the accelerated expansion of our universe, driven by the enigmatic dark energy. Maybe we are living inside a black hole or maybe not or are other planets inhabited by beings as sophisticated or even more than we are.Euclid might just help us unlock these mysteries.

Currently, only 5 percent of the universe is understood, consisting of normal matter. However, dark matter makes up around 25 percent, playing a crucial role in the formation of galaxies. The remaining percentage belongs to dark energy, the force that shapes the evolution of the universe by pushing it apart. Euclid's mission is to investigate the ratio of dark energy's pressure to its density, denoted as w. If this ratio equals -1, it would support Einstein's theory of a cosmological constant. Imagine what Einstein could have done with todays technology at his fingers.

Euclid's data will provide more accurate measurements and a deeper understanding of dark energy's nature. The telescope's location at Lagrange point 2, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, will offer a clear view of deep space and facilitate communication with astronomers. Equipped with advanced instruments, Euclid will capture the shapes of billions of galaxies and provide an extensive infrared field of view. Billions of galaxies try to wrap your head around that and then think about us as a planet or as humans. It can almost make one feel insignificant.

Unlike other telescopes that specialize in observing specific objects, Euclid will take a panoramic approach. The mission's goal is to gather an overwhelming amount of data and identify subtle signals that can unveil the universe's secrets. With all the hoopla it will be interesting to see what discoveries Euclid makes and what theories it can help scientists confirm or deny about our enormous ever expanding universe.

Euclid's use of infrared technology sets it apart from ground-based telescopes, which are limited by atmospheric blockage. By delving into infrared wavelengths, Euclid can penetrate dust clouds and delve deeper into the history of the universe.

It's an exciting time for astrophysicists as Euclid embarks on its mission to unlock the universe's secrets. The universe's expansion awaits exploration, and Euclid is ready to shed light on its mysteries. In a society where we have been taught and trained to get so many of our wants on demand, exploring the universe is slow and tedious. At times even feeling like we are spinning our perverbial wheels in the mud. Make no mistake though we are making progress like never before and now it is time for Euclid.