The Esa probe “Euclid”, which has just been launched into space to research dark matter and dark energy, has delivered the first test images. “These first technical images provide a tantalizing glimpse of the remarkable data we can expect from Euclid,” Paris-based European Space Agency ESA quoted its Science Director, Carole Mundell, as saying in a statement on Monday.
“Euclid” was launched into space in early July. The heart of the probe is a high-resolution telescope equipped with two cameras – one for the visible wavelength range and one for the near-infrared range. They are intended to depict the shapes of galaxies or help to deduce the distance of galaxies.
According to Esa, the first images from the two cameras were taken to test the instruments and see how the spacecraft can be optimized. The result indicates that the telescope can achieve its scientific goals and maybe even more. Knud Jahnke from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg said: “Although these first test images cannot yet be used for scientific purposes, I am pleased that the telescope and the two instruments are now working excellently in space.”
With the telescope, Esa wants to take a look at the past of the universe and explore its development over the last ten billion years. In total, data on billions of galaxies is to be collected. Further tests are to be carried out on “Euclid” in the coming months. The probe is supposed to start its actual work in autumn.
