{"id":31073,"date":"2026-11-12T11:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T11:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/?p=31073"},"modified":"2026-11-11T17:56:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T17:56:15","slug":"euclid-lays-the-foundation-for-its-best-ever-3d-map-of-the-universe-with-help-from-ou-scientists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/science-mct\/euclid-lays-the-foundation-for-its-best-ever-3d-map-of-the-universe-with-help-from-ou-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"Euclid lays the foundation for its best-ever 3D map of the Universe, with help from OU scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/strong>European Space Agency<\/a>\u2019s <\/strong>Euclid<\/a> mission has released its first major batch of data. With this release, which captures the light of more than a billion objects and covers an area of sky as big as 9500 full Moons, ESA\u2019s dark Universe detective lays the foundation for its largest-ever 3D map of the cosmos.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The new data release, named DR1-Foundation, comprises around 13 months of observations, and marks the first major release of mission data since the space telescope\u2019s launch in mid-2023. For the first time, it gives scientists the puzzle pieces they need to begin constructing a detailed 3D map of the cosmos \u2013 crucial for solving the many mysteries of the dark Universe<\/a> (including dark energy, dark matter, and the cosmic web.<\/p>\n

The data are accompanied by spectra<\/a> and images, including large sky mosaics.<\/p>\n

The OU has been central to capturing these images through Euclid’s VIS instrument (also known as the Visible Instrument, a high-resolution optical camera) and understanding how it responds to cosmic ray impacts in the very harsh radiation environment of space.<\/p>\n

Dr Jesper Skottfelt<\/strong><\/a> of the OU\u2019s <\/strong>Centre for Electronic Imaging (CEI)<\/strong><\/a> said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The success of this mission depends on the quality of the images, and that’s where the work of Teledyne-e2v and the CEI is so important. Teledyne-e2v developed the cutting-edge CCD (charge-coupled device) detectors that are at the heart of Euclid’s camera, and the CEI is working to correct for the effects of radiation damage on these detectors, ensuring that we get the most out of these precious images.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Brand new science and discovery<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Today\u2019s release is the first to demonstrate Euclid\u2019s abilities as a sky surveyor. Its breadth, panoramic mosaics, and wide sky coverage in visible and near-infrared light support a wide range of new science. DR1-Foundation reveals unprecedented numbers of cosmic objects, including:<\/p>\n