The European Space Agency's Gaia mission has completed one of its main missions. That is sending a map of the Milky Way galaxy. It consists of trillions of explorations in space over 10 years.
Between July 24, 2014 and today, Gaia has observed two billion stars and other objects. in our galaxy more than three trillion times The result of the spacecraft's efforts is nothing less than the largest and most accurate map of our galaxy to date. The work is complete. And because the spacecraft is running out of fuel, Gaia is now due for retirement.
The trove of data drawn by Gaia allows scientists to create the best new view of how our galaxy might appear to outside observers. The edge-on reconstruction is on top and the face-to-face view is on the bottom.
Gaia's data reveals that the Milky Way has more than two spiral arms, which are less prominent than previously thought. The brighter smudge in the galaxy's center is the galaxy's bulge. (which looks more convex in the picture above) where Lives in Sagittarius A*supermassive black hole
Gaia data has revealed many interesting objects in our galaxy. In April 2024, scientists revealed Heaviest stellar mass black hole in the milky way Only 2,000 light years from Earth (in 2022, Gaia's data includes The closest known black hole to Earthwhich is a compact object located only 1,600 light years away)
In June last year Gaia data review It indicates that interactions between the Milky Way and other galaxies may occur billions of years later than previously thought. This shakes up our theory of galaxy evolution.
“Gaia has changed the way we feel about the Milky Way,” Stefan Payne-Vardinar said the scientific imager of Haus der Astronomy in Germany. Press release– “Even basic concepts have been solved, such as the rotation of the galaxy's central belt. Warping of the plate Detailed structure of the turbine arm and interstellar dust near the sun”
Among the spacecraft's many achievements, Gaia measured the orbits of more than 150,000 asteroids with precision. and created a 3D map of more than one million quasars. which is the largest of its kind
“Remote parts of the Milky Way are still being learned based on speculation based on incomplete data,” Payne-Vardinar added. As more Gaia data becomes available, our view of the Milky Way will be more accurate. even more,” he said.
The spacecraft is now nearly out of fuel. When the tank is used up, Gaia will be moved into retirement orbit. In the next few weeks Gaia will undergo a series of technology tests to prepare the spacecraft for late-game orbit.
But the spacecraft's story will continue after its observational work is complete. Next year, the mission is expected to release its next data. It's scheduled to release more data at the end of the decade. So far Gaia has produced 500 terabytes of data, and that's just from the spacecraft's 5.5 years of observations.
“After 11 years in space and surviving micrometeorites and solar storms along the way, Gaia has completed its collection of scientific data,” said Johannes Sahlmann, Gaia project scientist at ESA. release– “All eyes now turn to preparations for the next release.” At least 500 terabytes of data are expected to be released in next year's dump. This may include information on new exoplanets and binary star systems.
Gaia will be indifferent—Electrically inert—March 27 to reduce interference between the Veteran mission and other spacecraft. that is still working