The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space telescope has achieved a monumental feat in its €1bn (£850m) mission by capturing a rare phenomenon known as an Einstein ring. This discovery sheds light on the extreme warping of space caused by a galaxy's gravity. The telescope's primary objective is to unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, which constitute 95% of the universe. By doing so, it aims to chart the largest cosmic 3D map ever created.
Euclid's remarkable find highlights the immense gravitational pull of a foreground galaxy, comprising roughly 11% dark matter. The Einstein ring phenomenon, predicted by Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, occurs when light bends around massive celestial objects, allowing galaxies to act as cosmic lenses. In this instance, Euclid observed the ring around the NGC 6505 galaxy, located about 590 million light-years from Earth, with an unnamed background galaxy positioned 4.42 billion light years away.
"I find it very intriguing that this ring was observed within a well-known galaxy, which was first discovered in 1884," – Dr Valeria Pettorino, ESA Euclid project scientist.
The Euclid space telescope distinguishes itself with its ability to detect galaxies as far as 10 billion light years away. Its razor-sharp observations have unveiled unprecedented structures in the nearby universe, showcasing its capability to reveal intricate cosmic details. The Einstein ring captured by Euclid is particularly extraordinary due to its near-perfect formation, a rarity in astronomical observations.
"This is a beautiful, extraordinary, thrilling and lucky find in our first data," – Prof Stephen Serjeant, an astronomer at the Open University.
The significance of Euclid's mission extends beyond capturing visually stunning images. By meticulously mapping the universe's structure and studying dark matter and dark energy, the mission strives to deepen our understanding of the universe's fundamental composition. The data collected by Euclid promises to revolutionize our comprehension of cosmic phenomena and the forces shaping our universe.