Lead author Conor O’Riordan from Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics anticipates that the wealth of new data from Euclid will revolutionize astrophysical research and present new challenges for scientists.

The analysis of NGC 6505 revealed that it contains approximately 11% dark matter, a relatively low figure compared to the typical 85% prevalence of dark matter in the universe.

Researchers are optimistic that this discovery will lead to further significant findings and enhance our understanding of cosmic phenomena.

While strong gravitational lenses are not the primary focus of Euclid's mission, they serve as valuable testing grounds for scientific hypotheses and Einstein's theories.

Only five other gravitational lenses have been found as close to Earth as NGC 6505, with simulations suggesting a mere 0.05 percent chance of this lens existing.

Bruno Altieri, the astronomer who discovered the lens, is leading the investigation into the mass distribution and structure of NGC 6505 through this gravitational lensing phenomenon.

The Euclid space telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying its first Einstein ring, a circular gravitational lens formed by the galaxy NGC 6505, located approximately 590 million light-years away.

This mission, launched on July 1, 2023, is backed by the European Space Agency with a budget of €1 billion, aiming to explore the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, which together make up about 95% of the universe.

Professor Thomas Collett from the University of Portsmouth emphasized the significance of nearby gravitational lenses for testing Einstein's general theory of relativity.

Professor Stephen Serjeant from the Open University described the discovery of this perfect Einstein ring as 'magnificent, exceptional, and unexpected', highlighting its rarity.

The mission aims to study galaxy movements and shapes, providing insights into the universe's past and its evolution over the last ten billion years.

Euclid's first scientific images, released in November 2023, showcased its ability to rival the Webb Space Telescope in deep space observations.