People have been left amazed after astronomers revealed the first images from an extensive map of the universe. Despite the unimaginable vastness of space, scientists are determined to map as much of the known universe as possible. One of the most ambitious projects in this effort is the Euclid telescope, which has been actively charting the cosmos.
Launched in July 2023, the Euclid telescope has been capturing images to build a 3D map of one-third of the known universe. Just over a year into the mission, the first images have been released, stunning viewers with the immense scale and complexity of the universe beyond Earth.
Although these images cover only a small fraction of the final map, they are visually striking. The European Space Agency (ESA) noted that the tiny section examined by the telescope contains ‘100 million sources,’ including stars both within and beyond the Milky Way.
Professor Mat Page from University College London’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory highlighted the telescope’s significance, stating that scientists expect a ‘harvest of discoveries’ once the project is complete. He explained that before Euclid, astronomers couldn’t observe the faint cirrus clouds in the Milky Way or identify the stars illuminating them with such clarity.
Astro Alexandra, a popular science communicator, also emphasized the telescope’s remarkable capabilities, saying on TikTok, “This is only one percent of what Euclid will achieve over six years. Eventually, it will map a third of the night sky… and you can zoom in.”
As usual with cosmic discoveries, the images from Euclid have prompted existential reflections. One person commented, “I can’t believe we’ve managed to do this. It’s so far away—how do we even know?” Another added, “I saw this last night, and it just kept zooming out. Now I’m having an existential crisis.”
The topic of aliens also surfaced, with someone asking, “How can anyone think we’re alone in the universe?”
Perhaps the discovery of extraterrestrial life is closer than we think.