Euclid space telescope by ESA to uncover mysteries of dark energy and dark matter

On July 1, a European space telescope 'Euclid' was launched to explore the dark universe, which is still a mystery to scientists, media reports. 

SpaceX sent the spacecraft to its destination 1.5mn kilometers away, close to the Webb Space Telescope's neighborhood. It will take about a month for Euclid to reach its destination and another two months before it starts its six-year survey this autumn.

Euclid will create the largest-ever map of the universe, covering over one-third of the sky and billions of galaxies. The telescope is expected to give insight into the dark energy and dark matter that make up most of the universe and keep it expanding. The highly anticipated 3D map will span space and time to explain how the dark universe evolved and why its expansion is speeding up.

Euclid, which costs €1.4bn, is 4.7 meters tall and almost as wide with a 1.2-meter telescope and two scientific instruments capable of observing the cosmos in visible and near-infrared light. It will measure dark energy and dark matter with unprecedented precision.

NASA has played a key role in developing Euclid's infrared detectors and is now embarking on a mission to gain deeper insights into dark energy and dark matter through the Roman Space Telescope, set to launch in 2027. The US-European Webb telescope is also poised to contribute to this mission.