Science Quickly
Saying Farewell to the Spacecraft That Mapped the Milky Way
Feb 26, 2025
Lee Billings, Senior space and physics editor for Scientific American, dives into the remarkable journey of the Gaia spacecraft, which expertly mapped the Milky Way for 11 years. He shares insights on its three trillion observations, revealing discoveries about tidal streams, black holes, and asteroids. Billings also discusses Gaia's legacy in galactic archaeology and the future of astronomical exploration, hinting at potential data releases that could unveil thousands of new exoplanets. An engaging look at the end of one mission and the start of another!
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Quick takeaways
- Gaia's mission has revolutionized our understanding of the Milky Way's history and structure through extensive data collection and analysis.
- Despite ceasing data collection, Gaia's rich observational catalog will continue to drive astronomical research and discoveries for years ahead.
Deep dives
Gaia's Mission and Achievements
The Gaia spacecraft, launched by the European Space Agency in December 2013, embarked on an ambitious mission to create a comprehensive and precise map of the Milky Way. It recently ceased taking scientific data, but its contributions have been monumental, encompassing observations of approximately 2 billion celestial objects. Unlike visually striking telescopes such as Hubble or James Webb, Gaia's results are a vast catalog of three trillion observations, emphasizing data richness over aesthetic imagery. This catalog serves as a foundational resource for various astronomical studies, contributing to our understanding of cosmic distances and the structure of our galaxy.
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