ESA’s Euclid captures the Milky Way’s crowded heart - European Space Agency
The European Space Agency's Euclid telescope has captured a highly detailed, wide-field image of the Milky Way's galactic bulge. This mosaic, containing over 60 million stars, will assist scientists in using microlensing techniques to detect and study exoplanets.
Why it matters
This data provides unprecedented clarity for mapping the galaxy and identifying planets that were previously difficult to observe.
The largest and most detailed photo ever made of our Milky Way galaxy’s centre in visible light is revealed today by the European Space Agency’s Euclid mission. Packed with more than 60 million stars, this image opens the door for scientists to confirm the existence of any exoplanet found in this region and measure its mass using tiny changes in starlight over time.
Scientific reporting on space agency findings is factual and non-partisan.
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