Can a 3D map of the cosmos finally reveal the universe's dark side?
The European Space Agency's Euclid mission aims to uncover the nature of dark matter and dark energy. By mapping billions of galaxies across cosmic time, this mission seeks to explain the unseen forces that dominate our universe and dictate its expansion.
Astronomers currently infer the existence of dark matter and dark energy through their gravitational effects on galaxy rotation and the expansion of the universe, yet these entities remain directly undetected. Euclid is designed to observe billions of galaxies up to 10 billion light-years away, effectively creating a 3D map where the third dimension represents time.
By tracking the position and velocity of these galaxies throughout cosmic history, the mission will measure subtle distortions in their appearance. This data will allow scientists to refine our understanding of gravity at extreme distances and potentially identify the properties of the mysterious components that govern the cosmos.
