Topic description and stories

Gaia creates richest star map of our Galaxy – and beyond

25 Apr 2018

The European Space Agency’s Gaia mission has produced the richest star catalogue to date, including high-precision measurements of nearly 1.7 billion...

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Gaia satellite

Gaia’s mission: solving the celestial puzzle

19 Dec 2013

A space mission to create the largest, most-accurate, map of the Milky Way in three dimensions has been launched today. Astronomers say the data...

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Galactic ‘vapour trails’ uncovered in giant cluster

20 Sep 2013

Astronomers have discovered enormous smooth shapes that look like vapour trails in a gigantic galaxy cluster. These ‘arms’ span half a million light...

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Gaia Deployable Sunshield Assembly

Twinkle, twinkle, little star: I’m going to know what you are

26 Apr 2012

A team of astronomers at the University of Cambridge is taking the next big step in a European-wide programme which will lead to the creation of the...

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