Durham University leads groundbreaking Euclid space telescope mission

Physicists at Durham University have played a crucial role in the Euclid space telescope project, which was launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in July 2023. The mission recently released five stunning and informative images that showcase clusters with thousands of galaxies, star-forming nurseries, and galaxy mergers. Professor Richard Massey from Durham’s Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy described Euclid as the most sensitive camera ever built.

The new images captured by Euclid provide detailed views of the dark Universe like never before. The university has created simulated data to train the telescope’s analysis software, which will help researchers compare and interpret the real observations made by Euclid. Professor Massey highlighted that Euclid was meticulously designed to withstand its harsh environment for at least six years. The mission aims to shed light on the expansion of the Universe and advance our knowledge of its evolution.

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher commended the hard work of scientists, engineers, and industry professionals from Europe and beyond who contributed to the success of the mission. He emphasized the importance of Euclid’s journey in mapping the structure of the Universe and the significant scientific developments it will bring about.