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A SpaceX rocket in Florida stood poised for launch on Saturday carrying an orbital telescope built to shed light on mysterious cosmic phenomena known as dark energy and dark matter, unseen forces scientists say account for 95 percent of the known universe.

The telescope dubbed Euclid, a European Space Agency (ESA) instrument named for the ancient Greek mathematician called the “father of geometry,” was bundled inside the cargo bay of a Falcon 9 rocket set for blast-off around 11 am EDT (1500 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

New insights from the $1.4 billion (roughly Rs. 11,500 crore) mission, designed to last at least six years, are expected to transform astrophysics and perhaps understanding of the very nature of gravity itself.

If all goes as planned, Euclid will be released after a short ride to space for a month-long voyage to its destination in solar orbit nearly 1 million miles (1.6 million km) from Earth – a position of gravitational stability between the Earth and sun called the Lagrange Point Two, or L2.

From there, Euclid is designed to explore the evolution of what astrophysicists refer to as the “dark universe,” using a wide-angle telescope to survey galaxies as far away as 10 billion light years from Earth across an immense expanse of the sky beyond our own Milky Way galaxy.

The 2-ton spacecraft is also equipped with instruments designed to measure the intensity and spectrums of infrared light from those galaxies in a way that will precisely determine their distances.

The mission focuses on two foundational components of the dark universe. One is dark matter, the invisible but theoretically influential cosmic scaffolding thought to give shape and texture to the cosmos. The other is dark energy, an equally enigmatic force believed to explain why expansion of the universe, as scientists learned in the 1990s, has long been accelerating.

The possibilities of the mission are reflected by the enormity of Euclid’s inquiry. Scientists estimate dark energy and dark matter together make up 95 percent of the cosmos, while ordinary matter that we can see accounts for just 5 percent.

European-led Mission

Euclid was designed and built entirely by ESA, with the US space agency, NASA, supplying photo detectors for its near-infrared instrument. The Euclid Consortium overall comprises more than 2,000 scientists from 13 European nations, the U.S., Canada and Japan.

A decade in the making, the mission originally was to have flown to space by way of a Russian Soyuz rocket. But launch plans were switched to SpaceX, the California-based venture of Elon Musk, after war erupted in Ukraine, and because no slot was immediately available from Europe’s Arianne rocket program.

While the James Webb Space Telescope launched by NASA late last year allows astronomers to zero in on particular objects from the early universe with unprecedented clarity, Euclid is intended to expose the hidden fabric and mechanics of the cosmos by meticulously charting an enormous swath of the observable universe in 3-D, more than 1 billion galaxies in all.

Dark matter and dark energy cannot be detected directly, but their properties “are encoded in the shapes and positions of the galaxies,” said astrophysicist Jason Rhodes, lead scientist for Euclid at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Los Angeles.

“Measuring the shapes and positions of galaxies allows us to infer the properties of dark matter and dark energy,” Rhodes said on Friday.

The data will be collected as Euclid maps the last 10 billion years of cosmic history across a third of the sky, gazing outward, and thus back in time, to an era of the universe astronomers call “cosmic noon,” when most stars were forming.

Observing subtle but distinct changes in the shapes and positions of galaxies over vast spans of time and space will reveal fine variations in cosmic acceleration, indirectly exposing the forces of dark energy, scientists say.

Euclid also will help reveal the nature of dark matter by measuring an effect called gravitational lensing, which produces faint distortions in galaxies’ visible shapes and is attributed to the presence of unseen material warping the fabric of space around it.

Through insights into dark energy and matter, scientists hope to better grasp the formation and distribution of galaxies across the so-called cosmic web of the universe.

Beyond Euclid’s primary objectives, it will provide “a gold mine for all fields of astronomy for several decades,” said Yannick Mellier, Euclid Consortium lead and astronomer at the Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris.

© Thomson Reuters 2023


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2,300-Year-Old Dwarf Statuette from Alexandria Reveals Ptolemaic Art Insights

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2,300-Year-Old Dwarf Statuette from Alexandria Reveals Ptolemaic Art Insights

A 2,300-year-old marble statuette discovered in Alexandria, Egypt, has offered new insights into how dwarves were perceived during the Ptolemaic period (332–150 B.C.). Depicting a muscular, nude dwarf in motion, the 4-inch sculpture reflects a combination of Egyptian and Greek artistic traditions. Despite missing its arms, legs, and part of the head, the craftsmanship of the piece indicates a highly skilled rendering of human anatomy. It is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Depictions of Dwarves in Ptolemaic Art

According to information from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as reported by Live Science, the statuette incorporates elements from Greek art, such as classical nudity and Hellenistic realism, blended with Egyptian cultural aesthetics. This synthesis points to the cultural exchange that characterised the Ptolemaic dynasty, a period when Egypt was ruled by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great. The depiction of a dwarf engaged in dance suggests a significant societal role, unlike the exaggerated caricatures of dwarves often seen in Greek art.

Egyptian Perspectives on Dwarves

Historical records indicate that dwarves were highly regarded in ancient Egypt, often serving in the households of nobles and pharaohs. Their association with the god Bes, who was depicted as a short and muscular protector of families and women in childbirth, contributed to their societal acceptance. Bes, known as a dancer and tambourine player, symbolises strength and guardianship in Egyptian mythology. The statuette’s design, which likely depicted the dwarf with a percussion instrument, aligns with this cultural significance.

A Glimpse into Cultural Integration

The artifact demonstrates the integration of different human forms into Egyptian society during the Ptolemaic era. The Met has emphasised that such depictions reflect a broader tradition of valuing diverse body types, setting the Egyptian approach apart from other ancient civilisations. This statuette, though small in size, offers a profound understanding of cultural dynamics during a transformative period in history.

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Lunar Temperature Fluctuations: Understanding the Moon’s Extreme Conditions

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Lunar Temperature Fluctuations: Understanding the Moon's Extreme Conditions

The surface temperature of the moon experiences extreme variations, making it one of the harshest environments in the solar system. During lunar daylight, temperatures can soar to over 100 degrees Celsius, while in darkness, they can plummet to minus 100 degrees Celsius. These fluctuations are caused by the absence of an atmosphere, which on Earth moderates temperature extremes. Instead, the moon’s surface directly absorbs and radiates heat depending on exposure to sunlight.

Lunar Temperature Variations Explained

According to data provided by NASA and analysed by experts, such as John Monnier, a professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan, the moon’s soil, or regolith, significantly influences these temperature shifts. Regolith is a poor conductor of heat, causing rapid temperature changes on the surface while insulating the subsurface. As reported by Live Science, during Apollo missions, measurements indicated that temperatures beneath the surface were warmer by 40 to 45 kelvins compared to the lunar exterior.

Further research using NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), launched in 2009, revealed localised thermal anomalies. Findings in 2022 demonstrated that shaded areas within certain lunar pits maintained a consistent temperature of 17 degrees Celsius. These regions are considered promising for future human habitation.

The Moon’s Poles and Extreme Conditions

The lunar poles present unique thermal environments due to the sun’s low angle. Permanently shadowed craters, particularly at the south pole, may host temperatures as low as minus 248.15 degrees Celsius. These craters are shielded not only from direct sunlight but also from secondary heat sources, such as reflected solar radiation. Such locations could hold trapped ice particles, potentially vital for sustaining future lunar exploration missions.

Understanding the moon’s thermal dynamics is essential for designing equipment capable of withstanding its conditions and planning potential settlements. Scientists and engineers continue to study these extremes to ensure that future missions can navigate and thrive in the lunar environment.

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SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites to Expand Global Internet Coverage

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SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites to Expand Global Internet Coverage

The first Starlink mission of 2025 was successfully launched by SpaceX from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on January 6, 2025, at 2:13 a.m. IST. A Falcon 9 rocket carried 24 Starlink satellites into orbit, aiming to expand SpaceX’s vast satellite internet network. The launch marked another significant step in SpaceX’s efforts to enhance global connectivity through its growing constellation of satellites.

Details of the Mission

According to a report from space.com, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage completed a flawless return to Earth, landing on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions,” positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. This milestone represented the 17th launch and recovery for this particular booster. SpaceX confirmed that this booster has supported 10 prior Starlink missions and was used in the Crew-5 mission, which transported astronauts to the International Space Station.

The upper stage of the rocket is expected to deploy the 24 satellites into low Earth orbit approximately 65 minutes after liftoff. These satellites will join the more than 6,850 active Starlink spacecraft currently operating, as stated to space.com by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who tracks satellite constellations.

Starlink, developed by SpaceX, is the largest satellite network in history. Its purpose is to deliver high-speed internet access globally, including remote and underserved areas. With launches like this, the constellation continues to grow, reinforcing SpaceX’s position as a leader in satellite-based internet services. This launch follows a year of record-breaking achievements for SpaceX, which conducted numerous successful missions in 2024. The company remains focused on accelerating its deployment of satellites, with regular launches planned throughout 2025.

As SpaceX continues its Starlink initiative, its impact on global connectivity and advancements in reusable rocket technology remain noteworthy. The company’s commitment to innovation in space exploration is expected to shape the future of satellite communications.

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