#european_space_agency

Euclid Telescope Captures Largest Image of Milky Way’s Center, Boosting Exoplanet Discovery Astronomers have unveiled the most detailed and expansive image ever captured of the Milky Way’s galactic center, revealing over 60 million stars in a dazzling display of cosmic light. The image, taken by the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope, marks a significant milestone in the study of dark forces shaping the universe and opens new avenues for discovering planets beyond our solar system. The telescope’s advanced camera, capable of resolving individual stars in the densely packed galactic bulge, has produced a mosaic of nine separate observations, each covering an area of the sky larger than the full moon. The Euclid telescope, launched in 2023 at a cost of €1 billion, was originally designed to construct the most accurate 3D map of the cosmos. However, its ability to capture this unprecedented view of the Milky Way’s core has proven to be a game-changer for planetary science. The image, taken in March 2024 after 26 hours of observations, provides a unique opportunity to study the dynamics of stars in this region. Dr. Eamonn Kerins, an astrophysicist at the University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, highlighted the telescope’s unexpected utility, stating, “It was never built with this science in mind, but it has proved to be a superb facility for the work.” The image’s significance extends beyond its visual appeal. It will accelerate the search for exoplanets, or planets orbiting stars outside the solar system. One key method for detecting these worlds involves microlensing, where the gravity of a star bends light from a distant star, creating a brightening effect.#european_space_agency #euclid_telescope #university_of_manchester #jodrell_bank_centre_for_astrophysics #nancy_grace_roman_space_telescope

ESA’s Euclid captures the Milky Way’s crowded heart For the first time, the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope turned its attention to the Milky Way’s densest region—the galactic bulge—capturing an image that reveals the intricate details of this stellar hub. This unique observation was requested by astronomers seeking to leverage Euclid’s capabilities in studying exoplanets through a technique called microlensing. Designed to map the universe’s dark matter and dark energy, Euclid’s visible light camera is sensitive enough to distinguish individual stars in the bulge, a feat rarely achieved by ground-based telescopes. The image, spanning an area 270 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope’s field of view, highlights Euclid’s efficiency in capturing faint stellar details and its potential to support future planet-hunting missions like NASA’s Roman telescope. Microlensing, the technique central to this study, relies on the gravitational bending of light from distant stars by closer objects. When a star passes in front of another, its gravity acts as a cosmic magnifying glass, temporarily brightening the background star’s light. If a planet orbits the foreground star, its gravity further distorts the light, creating a subtle but detectable anomaly. This method is particularly effective for finding cold, icy exoplanets, which are often missed by other planet-hunting techniques. Euclid’s image of the galactic bulge includes 51 known planetary systems, offering a foundation for analyzing future discoveries. The data collected by Euclid during its one-day observation provides a critical time reference for upcoming missions.#european_space_agency #euclid_telescope #milky_way #microlensing_technique #ogle_2005_blg_390lb

Rare Total Solar Eclipse of 2026: Millions to Witness from These Countries NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have confirmed the date and timing of the rare total solar eclipse set to occur in 2026. This celestial event will be visible to millions across specific regions, with the most dramatic “totality”—the moment when the sun is completely obscured by the moon—experienced in select areas. The total solar eclipse will be visible from Greenland, where observers will witness the longest duration of totality, lasting over two minutes. Iceland and Spain will also see the event, though Spain’s main landmass last experienced a total eclipse in 1905. In northern Spain, the total phase will last approximately 20 seconds. Portugal’s northeastern regions will have partial visibility, as will parts of Europe, Africa, and North America, where only a portion of the sun will be obscured. This eclipse marks a significant astronomical event, as the last total solar eclipse visible from Europe occurred in 2006. The phenomenon occurs when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on the planet’s surface. During totality, day will briefly turn to darkness, creating one of the most striking natural spectacles in the sky. Safety guidelines from NASA and experts emphasize the importance of proper eye protection. Direct observation without specialized equipment, such as certified solar viewing glasses or eclipse filters for telescopes, can cause irreversible eye damage. Ordinary sunglasses or unfiltered optical devices are ineffective and dangerous. Additionally, using telescopes or cameras without proper filters risks severe injury due to concentrated sunlight. The event has sparked global interest, with millions expected to gather in designated viewing areas.#nasa #european_space_agency #iceland #total_solar_eclipse_2026 #greenland

South Korea and NASA Expand Joint Research for L4 Deep Space Mission The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) is expanding its collaboration with NASA on research related to exploring the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 4 (L4), deep space exploration, and space weather monitoring. KASA announced the second bilateral team meeting between the two agencies, which will take place from March 24 to 27 at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). This follows a similar meeting held in March 2025 at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, organized as a follow-up to a 2024 cooperation agreement and joint statement. The goal is to refine the mission concept for L4 exploration and outline joint efforts in deep space communication and space weather forecasting. A Lagrange point is a location in space where the gravitational forces of the Sun and Earth balance the orbital motion of a spacecraft. L4 and L5 are considered the most stable points for long-term observation, as a probe can remain there with minimal fuel. NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and researchers from South Korea and abroad have proposed L4 as a strategic observation site for monitoring solar activity and predicting space radiation. By combining data from L4 with existing observation points at L1 (between the Sun and Earth) and L5 (on the far side of Earth), scientists aim to enhance the accuracy of space weather forecasts and early warnings. The meeting will involve scientists from NASA’s Headquarters, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Johnson Space Center, alongside researchers from South Korean institutions such as KASI, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI).#nasa #european_space_agency #korea_aerospace_administration #korea_astrology_and_space_science_institute #korea_atomic_energy_research_institute

Satellite imagery has confirmed that China’s newest aircraft carrier remains stationed at its naval base in Qingdao, contradicting a recent social media claim that the vessel had deployed to waters near Taiwan. The European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellites captured images showing the 1,036-foot ship docked far to the north, refuting assertions by a military-focused X account that the Fujian and its carrier group had moved into the Taiwan Strait. The claim, which garnered over 91,000 views, sparked mixed reactions online. Some users viewed the assertion as plausible, citing U.S. military actions in the Middle East as a potential context for China’s movements. Others dismissed the post as speculative or fake news. Meanwhile, analysts emphasized the need for caution in interpreting short-term military activity. Ben Lewis, an independent defense analyst and co-founder of PLA Tracker, warned against drawing firm conclusions from fleeting changes in military operations. China’s military has intensified pressure on Taiwan in recent years, with frequent flights over the Taiwan Strait’s median line and simulated blockades. A deployment of an aircraft carrier near Taiwan’s coast would represent a significant escalation, though the satellite evidence suggests no such movement has occurred. The claim emerged amid renewed speculation about China’s military activity following a brief lull in PLA Air Force flights into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. Flights resumed last week at a reduced pace, with none reported on Monday. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry confirmed that 28 PLA aircraft, including fighter jets and an early warning aircraft, were tracked in the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday.#european_space_agency #people_s_republic_of_china #sentinel_2 #fujian #taiwan_strait

NASA accidentally altered an asteroid’s solar orbit during its 2022 DART mission, marking the first time humanity has changed an asteroid’s path around the sun. A new study reveals that the mission’s impact on the moonlet Dimorphos also shifted the trajectory of its parent asteroid, Didymos. The DART mission, designed to test planetary defense by altering an asteroid’s path, targeted Dimorphos, a 525-foot-long moonlet orbiting the 2,550-foot-long asteroid Didymos. Neither object posed a threat to Earth, but the experiment aimed to demonstrate how a spacecraft could nudge an asteroid away from a potential collision. The mission succeeded in shifting Dimorphos’s orbit around Didymos by 33 minutes, far exceeding the 73-second target. However, the force of the impact also caused Didymos to move slightly along its solar path. Researchers explain that the collision’s energy disrupted Dimorphos, a rubble-pile asteroid, releasing debris that acted like a rocket’s jet, propelling Didymos backward. While the change in Didymos’s orbit was minuscule—equivalent to moving the asteroid the length of the Eiffel Tower over a year—the discovery highlights the unintended consequences of planetary defense experiments. Astronomers used stellar occultation observations to track the asteroid pair’s movement, finding that Didymos’s speed decreased by 22 millionths of a mile per hour. Though the shift was tiny, it underscores how even subtle changes in asteroid trajectories can accumulate over time. The study’s authors emphasize that the Didymos system remains safely distant from Earth, posing no immediate threat. The findings also provide insights into asteroid density. Dimorphos, with a density similar to water, behaved like a fluid during the impact, while Didymos, a denser, mountain-like object, resisted fragmentation.#nasa #dimorphos #didymos #dart_mission #european_space_agency

European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) Captures Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) recently captured new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which made a brief appearance in our solar system in late 2025. These images, transmitted from the spacecraft’s distant vantage point, provide a rare glimpse into the comet’s fleeting journey through our cosmic neighborhood. The comet, first detected in July 2025 as the third known object originating outside our solar system, has become a subject of intense scientific interest due to its unusual origin and trajectory. NASA officials and scientists have consistently emphasized that 3I/ATLAS is not extraterrestrial in nature but rather a naturally occurring celestial body that formed elsewhere in the galaxy. However, its unique path and composition have sparked fascination among astronomers. The comet’s brief visit to our solar system has allowed researchers to study planetary material that formed under different stellar conditions, offering insights into the diversity of objects in the universe. The Juice orbiter, en route to Jupiter, observed 3I/ATLAS between November 2 and November 25, 2025, during a period when the comet was in a highly active state. This activity followed its closest approach to the sun on October 30, 2025, which likely triggered the release of gas and dust. Due to the spacecraft’s position on the opposite side of the sun from Earth, scientists did not receive the data until February 2026. The first images released by the European Space Agency in late February showed the comet spewing gas and dust from a distance of 41 million miles, with a bright coma and a long tail visible.#nasa #3i_atlas #european_space_agency #jupiter_icy_moons_explorer #jet_propulsion_laboratory

European Space Agency Captures Detailed Image of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS The European Space Agency has released a new image of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, captured by its Juice spacecraft as it traveled toward Jupiter. The image shows the comet near the Sun, where it was ejecting dust and gas, revealing a bright halo of gas surrounding its nucleus, known as the coma. A long tail is also visible, along with jets, streams, and filaments emanating from the comet. The image was taken by the Juice spacecraft’s science camera, JANUS, on November 6, 2025, seven days after the comet passed its closest point to the Sun. At the time, Juice was approximately 66 million kilometers away from the comet. This marks the second image of 3I/ATLAS captured by Juice, following a previous one taken with its Navigation Camera in November 2025. The new image, however, allows scientists to study the comet’s structure in greater detail. 3I/ATLAS, discovered on July 1, 2025, is one of only three interstellar comets ever identified. It is believed to be the oldest comet ever found, potentially older than the Sun itself. Formed in another part of the galaxy, it is passing through the Solar System as part of its journey. Scientists suggest it may originate from a region beyond our Solar System, making it a rare object for study. Juice’s mission to Jupiter includes investigating the icy moons of the gas giant, which are thought to harbor subsurface oceans and could be potential habitats for life. The spacecraft used five science instruments—JANUS, MAJIS, SWI, PEP, and UVS—to analyze 3I/ATLAS during November 2025. These tools collected data on the comet’s composition, behavior, and interactions with solar radiation.#3i_atlas #european_space_agency #juice_spacecraft #janus_camera #jupiter_mission