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A space mission to map the Dark Universe
Euclid is a space-borne survey mission dedicated to investigate the origin of the Universe's accelerating expansion and the nature of dark energy, dark matter and gravity. Euclid will characterise the signatures of dark energy on the 3D distribution of cosmic structures. In 2012, Euclid was approved as the second Medium Class mission (M2) in the Cosmic Vision Programme. Launch is scheduled in July 2023 with a Falcon 9 launcher.
Watch the Euclid model in 3-D !
The mission is optimised to measure apparent shapes of galaxies, which are distorted by gravitational deflection of light due to dark matter concentrations, and to measure galaxy clustering, that is the non-random distribution of galaxies in the Universe resulting from the action of gravity. Euclid demands very high precision measurements and the ability to survey the sky at visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. Such requirements cannot be met from the ground, and calls for a wide-field Visible/NIR space mission. For more information see our SciTech site, and in particular the "red book"
The sky covered by Euclid
During its nominal mission of 6 years, Euclid will survey more than 14000 deg2 of extragalactic sky. The image above is the Euclid reference survey fulfilling all mission specifications. The image is a Mollweide projection of the entire sky in ecliptic coordinates, the ecliptic North pole is up. The ecliptic plane (horizontal band) and the galactic plane (u-shaped band) are avoided due to sky background disturbance. Different colours indicate different years during the survey (image courtesy Euclid Consortium).
latest news on Euclid on Twitter: @ESA_Euclid
EVENTS and Announcements
| 19-23 June 2023 | 2023 annual consortium meeting (Copenhagen) |
| 25-29 April 2022 | 2022 annual consortium meeting (Oslo) |
| 25-28 May 2021 | 2021 annual consortium meeting (Lausanne, virtual) |
| 4-8 May 2020 | 2020 Euclid Consortium meeting (Barcelona, virtual) |
| 4-7 June 2019 | Annual Euclid Consortium meeting (Helsinki) |
| 11-15 June 2018 | Annual Euclid Consortium meeting (Bonn) |
| 5-8 June 2017 | Euclid Consortium Meeting, 100 years of Λ (London) |
| 1 Dec 2016 | Euclid Blue Grism workshop (IAP Paris) |
| 20-23 Sep 2016 | 2016 Euclid Photometric Calibration workshop (ESAC) |
| 30 May - June 2 2016 | Annual Euclid Consortium meeting (Lisbon) |
| 8-12 June 2015 | Annual Euclid Consortium meeting 2015 (Lausanne) |
| 10-11 Sep 2014 | Euclid Science Team Meeting #9 (GSFC, Greenbelt MD) |
| 8 May 2014 | Euclid Science Team meeting #8 (Marseille) |
| 5-9 May 2014 | Annual Euclid Consortium Meeting 2014 (Marseille) |
| Mar 2014 | NASA endorses funding for ENSCI, the US datacentre at IPAC |
| Nov 2013 | Euclid Multi-Lateral Agreement was signed by the payload funding agencies. |
| Jul 2013 | ESA selected Thales Alenia Space as the spacecraft prime contractor |
| 13-15 May 2013 | Annual Euclid Consortium Meeting (Leiden) |
| Jan 2013 | NASA joined the mission A Memorandum of Understanding between ESA and NASA was signed |
| Dec 2012 | ESA selected Astrium Toulouse as the payload module prime contractor |
| 15-16 May 2012 | Euclid Mission Meeting (Copenhagen) |
| Oct 2011 | Euclid selected for implementation |