The European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope, launched in 2023 to study dark energy and dark matter, has been facing a new challenge. The telescope has been losing its vision due to layers of frozen water molecules on its mirrors, impacting its ability to observe the dark universe.
Since its launch, the team behind Euclid has noticed a gradual decline in the amount of light measured from stars. After an investigation, they discovered that frozen water molecules have likely accumulated on the telescope’s mirrors, hampering its vision. The freezing temperatures of space have caused the released water molecules to stick to the surfaces of Euclid’s optical instruments.
To address this issue, the team plans to heat low-risk optical parts of the spacecraft in order to de-ice the mirrors. They will start with two mirrors that can be independently warmed up. While this is an experimental procedure, the team believes it is worth the risk as the water ice could threaten Euclid’s ability to survey a large portion of the sky with unprecedented sensitivity.
Despite previous glitches with fine guidance sensors, the team remains optimistic about restoring Euclid’s vision to continue its mission of observing the dark universe. The ESA’s Euclid telescope plays a crucial role in studying dark energy and dark matter, making it essential to resolve the issue of frozen water molecules affecting its vision. Stay tuned for updates on the progress of restoring Euclid’s vision on Celebrity Beauty Buzz.
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