The Euclid telescope had been gradually losing its vision as layers of water molecules accumulated on its mirrors.
The European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope is back in action after an experimental procedure restored its ability to see the light in the cold, dark depths of space. After noticing a gradual dip in the amount of light measured by Euclid from its surrounding stars, the team behind the mission devised a plan to heat parts of the spacecraft to get rid of frozen water molecules that had accumulated on the telescope’s mirrors.
After months of investigating, the team discovered that several layers of water molecules had likely frozen onto the mirrors of Euclid’s optical instruments. Although it’s a very thin layer of water ice, maybe a few tens of nanometers thick , it was enough to affect Euclid’s highly sensitive vision. To restore Euclid’s sight, the team came up with a plan to heat the spacecraft using a decontamination procedure developed before launch.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Euclid 'dark universe' telescope gets de-iced from a million miles awaySharmila Kuthunur is a Seattle-based science journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. Follow her on X skuthunur.
Read more »
Space ice foils Euclid’s mission to map the dark universeHeating the spacecraft to clean its optics would risk misaligning its sensitive instruments. What next?
Read more »
Engineers Devise Plan to De-Ice 'Dark Universe' Telescope from a Million Miles AwayEuclid's mission team is testing a new way to de-ice the telescope's optics and restore its ability to explore the dark universe.
Read more »
Here’s how a galaxy with no dark matter could prove dark matter existsIn an interview with IE, astronomer Sebastién Comerón explained the paradox of a dark matter-deficient galaxy being used as evidence for dark matter.
Read more »
Deciphering the Dark: The Accelerating Universe and the Quest for Dark EnergyScience, Space and Technology News 2024
Read more »
South Euclid homeowners riled about plans to build homes on empty lotHomeowners in the King George neighborhood of South Euclid say they love their neighborhood and street.
Read more »