Mapping the invisible architecture of our expanding universe

Space · Published 29 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most of the cosmos is hidden from view, composed of mysterious dark matter and dark energy. The Euclid space telescope was designed to peer through this veil, creating a massive 3D map of the universe to reveal why everything is flying apart at an accelerating rate.

Launched on July 1, 2023, Euclid is a collaborative mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. Its primary objective is to investigate the geometry of the universe by measuring the shapes and redshifts of cosmic structures. By observing galaxies out to a look-back time of approximately 10 billion years—corresponding to redshifts of ~2—Euclid covers the critical period during which dark energy began significantly accelerating the expansion of the cosmos.

The telescope operates with extreme precision, imaging billions of galaxies to uncover the 'dark' components that make up the majority of the universe's energy budget. Specifically, it aims to measure the shapes of roughly 1.5 billion galaxies and the redshifts of about 30 million galaxies across one-third to one-half of the extragalactic sky in optical and near-infrared wavelengths. This data will eventually be released to the global research community within about two years of acquisition.

Euclid has already begun producing landmark results, including the discovery of 31 of the oldest quasars ever documented. Two of these date back to when the universe was just 5% of its current age, with light traveling for some 13 billion years to reach Earth. These findings provide a window into how the first black holes and galaxies formed. Furthermore, Euclid's data is expected to inform the design and goals of NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

Initial technical difficulties plagued the project; during September 2021, a device intended for gauging how quickly distant galaxies move ceased functioning unexpectedly while undergoing orbital-simulated trials. A specialized 'Tiger Team' was convened to solve the mystery, ensuring the telescope could meet its performance requirements in the harsh environment of space.

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