[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/slider-comunicacio.jpg” max_height=”130px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”24px||11px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Unitats de recerca” module_class=”ieec-orgs” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfb3JnYW5pemFjaW9uZXMiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImVuYWJsZV9odG1sIjoib2ZmIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title author=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”T\u00edtol i data” module_class=”ieec-title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Cairo|300|||||||” title_font_size=”40px” meta_font=”||on||||||” meta_font_size=”16px” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”30px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subt\u00edtols” module_class=”ieec-summary” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Source Sans Pro||on||||||” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.1em” text_font_size_tablet=”22px” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title title=”off” meta=”off” module_class=”ieec-img-container” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” border_width_top=”10px” border_color_top=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Various huge galaxy clusters as well as intra-cluster light, and gravitational lenses are visible in this image of an area of Euclid\u2019s Deep Field South. The cluster near the centre is called J041110.98-481939.3, and is located almost 6 billion light-years away. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Today, 19 March 2025, the <\/span>European Space Agency<\/span><\/a>\u2019s Euclid mission released its first batch of survey data, including a preview of its deep fields. Here, <\/span>hundreds of thousands of galaxies in different shapes and sizes take centre stage and show a glimpse of their large-scale organisation in the cosmic web<\/b>. These have been observed and analysed by scientists of the Euclid Consortium, demonstrating the unprecedented power of this telescope designed to provide the most precise map of our Universe over time. The scientific results are described in a series of 27 scientific publications together with 7 technical papers that describe how this data has been processed that have been published today in arXiv.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Covering a huge area of the sky in three mosaics,<\/span> the data release also includes numerous galaxy clusters, active galactic nuclei (AGN) and transient phenomena<\/b>, as well as the first classification survey of more than 380,000 galaxies and 500 gravitational lens candidates compiled through combined artificial intelligence and citizen science efforts. All of this sets the scene for the broad range of topics that Euclid is set to address with its rich dataset.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cEuclid shows itself once again to be the ultimate discovery machine. It is surveying galaxies on the grandest scale, enabling us to explore our cosmic history and the invisible forces shaping our Universe,\u201d says ESA\u2019s Director of Science Carole Mundell.<\/span> \u201cWith the release of the first data from Euclid\u2019s survey, we are unlocking a treasure trove of information for scientists to dive into and tackle some of the most intriguing questions in modern science. With this, ESA is delivering on its commitment to enable scientific progress for generations to come.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe data we now make public represent a small fraction of the total data Euclid will collect\u201d, comments Francisco Javier Castander, researcher from the <\/span>Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia<\/span><\/a> (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) at the <\/span>Institute of Space Sciences<\/span><\/a> (ICE-CSIC). \u201cNevertheless, even such a small fraction of the data has allowed us to perform many scientifically relevant studies that we now present.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The data unveiled today provide a first glimpse of Euclid\u2019s cosmological survey. The so-called Q1 fields are illustrative of what will be extensively analysed by scientists within the Euclid Collaboration to map the large-scale structure of the Universe across cosmic time, and investigate the nature of dark matter and dark energy in the years to come. With a sky area of about 63 square degrees, the equivalent area of more than 300 times the full Moon, these observations represent<\/span> the largest contiguous areas of sky ever observed with an optical\/near-infrared space telescope<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe sky coverage achieved so far is unprecedented, and the images continue to showcase the outstanding performance of the satellite\u2019s instruments. I am truly excited to publish the cosmological results in the coming years,\u201d comments Cristobal Padilla, <\/span>Institute of High Energy Physics<\/span><\/a> (IFAE) researcher.<\/span><\/p>\n “The images captured by the Euclid telescope that are now available to the international scientific community, once processed, are impressively deep and detailed, allowing astronomers to familiarise themselves with the data the mission will generate and plan its scientific exploitation beyond the cosmological objectives set by the consortium,” explains Rafael Toledo, researcher at the <\/span>Polytechnic University of Cartagena<\/span><\/a> (UPCT).<\/span><\/p>\n Thanks to Euclid\u2019s very wide field of view and high resolution, these exquisite data are also highly valuable for various astrophysical studies on smaller scales, ranging from clusters of galaxies to planet-sized objects. All the papers published today are dedicated to this non-cosmological science, also called legacy science.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Euclid is expected to capture images of more than 1.5 billion galaxies over six years, sending back around 100 GB of data every day. Such an impressively large dataset creates incredible discovery opportunities, but huge challenges when it comes to searching for, analysing and cataloguing galaxies. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, in combination with thousands of human citizen science volunteers and experts, is playing a critical role.<\/span><\/p>\n In August 2024, members of the Euclid Consortium launched a first citizen-science campaign on the Zooniverse platform, enlisting thousands of volunteers to train a deep-learning algorithm classifying galaxy morphologies. The resulting catalogue, based on the first 0.45% of the \u223c100 million lower-redshift galaxies that Euclid will ultimately capture in detail, has already proven valuable to researchers. Moreover, thanks to this large volume of high-quality data, scientists were able to observe differences with respect to simulated galaxy shapes and features. They also investigated how different environments, star-formation rates, and morphologies are linked and drive the evolution of galaxies in various epochs of our Universe.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/EWS-Q1-EuclidGalaxyMorphology.Collage_r.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Galaxies in different shapes, all captured by Euclid during its first observations of the Deep Field areas. As part of the data release, a detailed catalogue of 380,000 galaxies was published, which have been classified according to features such as spiral arms, central bars, and tidal tails that infer merging galaxies [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In that respect, the study led by Marc Huertas-Company, staff researcher from the <\/span>Instituto de Astrof\u00edsica de Canarias<\/span><\/a> (IAC), used Euclid\u2019s unique combination of wide field of view and resolution together with the models trained thanks to volunteers from all over the world participating in the citizen science campaign to quantify the abundance of bars and how they change with cosmic time.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Q1 data release demonstrates the transformative power of the Euclid telescope for the study of galaxy physics. It also confirms the growing impact of AI for the analysis of increasingly voluminous and complex data in astrophysics. Approximately 50% of the scientific articles published with these first Euclid data are based on AI methods,\u201d adds Marc Huertas-Company. \u201cThe IAC has led the development of deep neural networks for the study of galaxy morphology thanks to a citizen science campaign. In just a few months of observations, Euclid and AI have identified 10 times more barred galaxies than in more than twenty years of observations with the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n By means of another citizen-science campaign with the help of over 1,000 participants and newly trained machine-learning algorithms, more than 500 strong gravitational lens candidates at galaxy scale were identified in the Q1 fields. \u201cThe resolution of the Euclid data allowed us to see these lensed systems in incredible detail, and these data are only a small fraction of the lenses we hope to find in the coming years as the survey continues,\u201d says Philip Holloway, PhD student at the University of Oxford. These rare phenomena, predicted by Einstein\u2019s general relativity, are invaluable tools for understanding the distribution of dark matter around galaxies, studying internal dynamics in galaxy clusters, and even uncovering previously hidden galaxies. So far, only about 150 of these lenses had been observed by space telescopes.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/EWS-Q1-EuclidStrongLenses_r.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Examples of gravitational lenses that Euclid captured in its first observations of the Deep Field areas. Using an initial sweep by artificial intelligence models, followed by citizen science inspection, expert vetting and modelling, a first catalogue of 500 galaxy-galaxy strong lens candidates was created, almost all of which were previously unknown. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Euclid maps the Universe across cosmic time and traces the evolution of large-scale structures that form the so-called cosmic web. Using the Q1 fields, researchers have successfully recovered galaxy filaments and explored their role in galaxy morphology and alignment far beyond previous limits, as well as which properties and environments make galaxy clusters connect to these filaments.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor the first time, we are studying the cosmic web in a statistical way on a very large area.\u201d says Simona Mei, Professor at Universit\u00e9 Paris Cit\u00e9 (CNRS\/IN2P3\/APC). As key building blocks of the cosmic web, numerous previously unknown galaxy clusters have been discovered and characterised – some from the first ages of our Universe, many exhibiting strong gravitational lensing features.<\/span><\/p>\n The next data release from the Euclid Consortium will concern Euclid\u2019s nominal survey and core-science, including results about the nature of dark energy. A first worldwide data release is currently planned for October 2026. At least two other quick releases and two other data releases are expected before 2031, the currently foreseen end date of Euclid\u2019s main survey.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”M\u00e9s informaci\u00f3” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n More information<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-sub-text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on||||” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The data release of 19 March 2025 is described in multiple scientific papers which have not yet been through the peer-review process, but which will be submitted to the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. <\/span>A preprint of the papers is available here from 19 March 12:00 CET.<\/span><\/a> Find more detailed information about the data release here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Euclid \u2018quick\u2019 (Q1) releases, such as the one of 19 March, are of selected areas, intended to demonstrate the data products to be expected in the major data releases that follow, and to allow scientists to sharpen their data analysis tools in preparation. The mission\u2019s first cosmology data will be released to the community in October 2026. Data accumulated over additional, multiple passes of the deep field locations will be included in the 2026 release.<\/span><\/p>\n The three deep field previews can now be explored in <\/span>ESASky<\/span><\/a> from 19 March 12:00 CET onwards:<\/span><\/p>\n Spain has an important involvement in the mission, with a prominent role in the Consortium that has led the mission from its origin. The ICE-CSIC, the IFAE and the IEEC have been involved since 2006 in the initial concepts of the mission and have been responsible for the design, construction, assembly and validation tests of the Filter Wheel Assembly (FWA) of the Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP) instrument. Together with PIC they are responsible for the cosmological simulation effort in the Euclid mission. UPCT, in collaboration with IAC, have been responsible for the design, construction and validation of the control electronics of the NISP Instrument.<\/span><\/p>\n A more extended version of this press release can be found on the ICE-CSIC website<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Enlla\u00e7os” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Links<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-sub-text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contactes” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Contacts<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#1a1140″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
ESA\/Euclid\/Euclid Consortium\/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre, E. Bertin, G. Anselmi.<\/strong><\/p>\nFirst glimpse of Euclid\u2019s cosmological survey<\/h2>\n
AI and citizen science to unravel the mysteries hidden in Euclid data<\/h2>\n
ESA\/Euclid\/Euclid Consortium\/NASA, image processing by M. Walmsley, M. Huertas-Company, J.-C. Cuillandre.
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ESA\/Euclid\/Euclid Consortium\/NASA, image processing by M. Walmsley, M. Huertas-Company, J.-C. Cuillandre.
<\/strong><\/p>\nTracing out the cosmic web in Euclid\u2019s deep fields<\/h2>\n
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IEEC Communication Office<\/h4>\n