GAIA - 1 billion stars and counting

In summary, GAIA is a space mission by the European Space Agency that aims to create a 3D map of our Milky Way galaxy by precisely measuring the positions, distances, and motions of 1 billion stars. It was launched in 2013 and has already collected data on over 1.7 billion stars, with more being added daily. This data will help astronomers better understand the structure and evolution of our galaxy, as well as potentially discovering new objects and phenomena. GAIA also has the potential to map other galaxies and provide insight into the expansion of the universe.
  • #1
Borg
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The GAIA telescope has been mapping stars in the Milky Way with unprecedented quality and quantities. It has been assembling the most detailed 3D map ever made of our Milky Way galaxy and has currently mapped over 1 billion stars. There are already hints that the Milky Way may be shaped differently from what we thought.

Gaia's billion-star map hints at treasures to come

Gaia_GDR1_Sky_Map_annotated_signature_625.jpg
The data from Gaia's first release can be accessed at http://archives.esac.esa.int/gaia
 
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Borg said:
The GAIA telescope has been mapping stars in the Milky Way with unprecedented quality and quantities. It has been assembling the most detailed 3D map ever made of our Milky Way galaxy and has currently mapped over 1 billion stars. There are already hints that the Milky Way may be shaped differently from what we thought.

Gaia's billion-star map hints at treasures to come

The data from Gaia's first release can be accessed at http://archives.esac.esa.int/gaia
yup, this is pretty impressive :)Dave
 
  • #3
Would it be possible to develop a program from this data where you could move through the galaxy in 3D or like Google Maps?
 
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Greg Bernhardt said:
Would it be possible to develop a program from this data where you could move through the galaxy in 3D or like Google Maps?
My thoughts as well. Unfortunately, I'm much too busy at work or I would. :smile:
 
  • #6
Where is the "you are here" sign?...lol

Joking aside, it is a cool map and a fascinating project.

Cheers,

Billy
 
  • #7
AFAIU Gaia DR1 is just a 'preview' after only 14 month of operation out of five years. It does not include much more then the Hipparcos catalog - at least regarding parallax data and a few bright stars are not there yet. So right now Gaia Sky is probably not better then the mature and well established Celestia software... which will certainly incorporate the final data release when it will be available in a few years.

Note that there is a WebGL version of Gaia Sky that can run right off the net into a browser window - when it doesn't crash.
 
  • #8
would you happen to have the link to the browser based vr.?
also could we do the same for whole galaxy to get a good sense of the out would shape of the cosmos?


i also wanted to thank you for the post very much:wideeyed::partytime:
 
  • #9
hsdrop said:
would you happen to have the link to the browser based vr.?
also could we do the same for whole galaxy to get a good sense of the out would shape of the cosmos?

Gaia Sky WebGL:
http://wwwstaff.ari.uni-heidelberg.de/gaiasandbox/webgl

At a larger scale we have the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that has mapped distant objects and produced some remarkable maps showing 'sponge' like structures:
http://www.sdss.org

 
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  • #10
patmurris said:
Gaia Sky WebGL:
http://wwwstaff.ari.uni-heidelberg.de/gaiasandbox/webgl

At a larger scale we have the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that has mapped distant objects and produced some remarkable maps showing 'sponge' like structures:
http://www.sdss.org


thank you so very much for the links
 

1. What is GAIA?

GAIA is a scientific mission launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) that aims to create a 3D map of our Milky Way galaxy by collecting data on the positions, motions, and characteristics of approximately 1 billion stars.

2. How does GAIA collect data on so many stars?

GAIA uses a specialized telescope equipped with two mirrors and a billion-pixel camera to observe each star multiple times over a period of five years. This allows for accurate measurements of the stars' positions and movements.

3. What is the purpose of creating a 3D map of our galaxy?

The 3D map created by GAIA will help scientists better understand the structure, composition, and evolution of our galaxy. It will also provide valuable insights into the formation of other galaxies and the universe as a whole.

4. How will GAIA's data be used?

GAIA's data will be used by scientists around the world to study a wide range of topics, such as the distribution of dark matter, the formation of stars and planets, and the history of our galaxy. It will also be made available to the general public for educational purposes.

5. What are some of the challenges of the GAIA mission?

The GAIA mission faces several challenges, including the complex data processing required to handle the vast amount of information collected, the potential for errors in the measurements, and the need for precise calibration of the telescope. Additionally, the spacecraft must constantly adjust its position to account for the Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun.

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