gaia | EarthSky

A flat disk-shape, with a cylinder embedded in its center.

Gaia 3rd data release: Starquakes, star DNA, more

On June 13, 2022, ESA released the Gaia space observatory's 3rd data set. It contains data on "strange" starquakes and star DNA.

History of Milky Way mergers revealed in Gaia data

Astronomers analyzed Gaia data to create an atlas of Milky Way mergers with smaller galaxies, using data about stellar streams and globular clusters as well.

Large several-armed spiral with bar in middle and labels of areas.

Gaia’s 3rd data release: Gazing toward the galactic anticenter

The 3rd data release from the Gaia mission will provide astronomers with a "treasure trove" of information they didn't have before. As they analyze Gaia's data in the years ahead, we're sure to learn new and surprising things about our home galaxy, the Milky Way.

Gaia’s 3rd data release, in numbers

The much-anticipated 3rd data release from the Gaia space observatory happened today.

Artist's concept of strings of stars - sibling stars, or star families - within 3,000 light-years of the sun.

Gaia tracks sibling stars in Milky Way

Rather than leaving home young, as expected, star siblings are more likely to stick together in long-lasting, string-like star groups, according to a new study of data from ESA's Gaia spacecraft.

Painting of circular face-on tight purple spiral with a yellow central bar.

Gaia starts mapping our Milky Way’s bar

"We knew the Milky Way had a bar, like other barred spiral galaxies. But we only had indirect indications from the motions of stars and gas. This is the first time we see the galactic bar in 3D space, based on geometric measurements of stellar distances."

A spiral galaxy, with globular clusters scattered around it.

How Hubble and Gaia weighed the Milky Way

Scientists used the measured velocities of 44 globular star clusters to measure the mass of our home galaxy, the Milky Way.

Over 100 new exoplanets from Kepler and Gaia

At least 18 of the new planets are less than 2 times larger than the Earth, and are likely to have rocky compositions with atmospheres comparable to Earth's.

Gaia spots enormous ghost galaxy on Milky Way’s outskirts

Gaia satellite data revealed the galaxy, which has avoided detection until now, thanks to its extremely low density and hiding place behind the shroud of the Milky Way’s disk.

Gaia reveals stars flying between galaxies

Only a small number of hypervelocity stars have ever been discovered. Now ESA's Gaia mission has revealed 20 more.

How Gaia could help find Dyson spheres

Dyson spheres are hypothetical megastructures built by extraterrestrials for the purpose of harvesting all of a star's energy. Here's how the European Space Agency's Gaia mission might help find one.

Gaia sees LMC stars as galactic fingerprint

It resembles a fingerprint, doesn't it? But it's really a galaxy, rotating. This image is from ESA's Gaia space observatory. It shows the rotation of the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Gaia’s 2nd data release: 1.7 billion stars!

Why did ESA's director of science say Gaia's observations are "redefining the foundations" of astronomy? Also, links to virtual reality resources made possible by Gaia, available for you to explore.

Gaia’s view of Large Magellanic Cloud

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), one of the nearest galaxies to our Milky Way, as viewed by ESA's Gaia satellite after its first 14 months of operations.

A billion stars here we come! Gaia galaxy surveyor lifts off

Gaia is designed to make accurate measurements of the positions and motions of 1% of the total population of roughly 100 billion Milky Way stars.

Small potato-shaped gray asteroid, sunlit on one side, with starry background.

Smallest main-belt asteroid yet, for Webb

The Webb space telescope has detected a new 100-200-meter asteroid. It's roughly the size of Rome’s Colosseum and is Webb's smallest main-belt asteroid yet.

Bright white dot moving across a larger, brighter white dot on black background.

Webb observes Chariklo’s rings during occultation

NASA's Webb telescope took its 1st look at tiny asteroid Chariklo's rings, showing they contain water ice. Webb used a stellar occultation to observe the rings.