The Euclid dark Universe mission is about to release its first images. Here's how to watch live

The Euclid dark Universe mission is about to release its first images. Here's how to watch live

Watch live the release of the Euclid mission's very first images.

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An artist's impression of the Euclid spacecraft in action. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab (spacecraft); NASA, ESA, CXC, C. Ma, H. Ebeling and E. Barrett (University of Hawaii/IfA), et al. and STScI (background)

Iain Todd

Published: November 6, 2023 at 2:50 pm

The first images captured by the European Space Agency's Euclid mission are due to be released on Tuesday 7 November at 13:15 UTC.

The Euclid mission launched on 1 July 2023 from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Its goal is to study the nature of dark matter and dark energy by mapping and studying 2 billion galaxies.

Science observations are due to begin in early 2024, but this week ESA is releasing the first images captured by Euclid as part of a test and showcase of what it can do.

Like the James Webb Space Telescope, Euclid will conduct its science from Lagrange point L2, 1.5 million kilometres out from Earth.
Like the James Webb Space Telescope, Euclid will conduct its science from Lagrange point L2, 1.5 million kilometres out from Earth.

"Never before has a telescope been able to create such razor-sharp astronomical images across such a large patch of the sky," a statement from ESA says.

"Five images show that the telescope is ready for its mission to create the most extensive 3D map of the Universe yet and uncover some of its hidden secrets."

We can't wait. You can watch the release of the images live via ESA Web TV or ESA's YouTube channel below.

Watch the release of Euclid's first images live

The broadcast will begin on 7 November 2023 at 13:15 UTC and will last until 13:55 UTC.

Iain Todd

Science journalist

Iain Todd is BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Content Editor. He fell in love with the night sky when he caught his first glimpse of Orion, aged 10.
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