Millions of stars light up largest and most detailed shot of Milky Way’s centre

An area of stars in the galactic bulge, captured by the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope. Photograph: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, CFHT. Image processing by J-C Cuillandre and E Bertin (CEA Paris-Saclay)

The dazzling sight of more than 60m stars at the heart of Earth’s galaxy has been captured by a space telescope designed to reveal the mysterious dark forces that shape the universe.

Astronomers used the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope to capture the largest, most detailed image ever taken of the visible light pouring from the centre of the Milky Way. The telescope’s camera is rare in being sensitive enough to separate individual stars in the crowded region known as the galactic bulge.