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Gaia Telescope

All articles tagged with #gaia telescope

Scientists Measure Mass of Rogue Saturn-Size Planet Drifting in Space
science1 month ago

Scientists Measure Mass of Rogue Saturn-Size Planet Drifting in Space

Astronomers have directly measured the mass of a Saturn-sized rogue planet drifting in space using gravitational microlensing, marking a significant advancement in studying free-floating planets that do not orbit stars. This breakthrough was achieved through a rare cosmic alignment observed from Earth and the Gaia space telescope, demonstrating a new method to analyze these elusive celestial bodies.

Scientists record universe's most powerful explosions since the Big Bang
science8 months ago

Scientists record universe's most powerful explosions since the Big Bang

Scientists have discovered the most intense cosmic explosions, called extreme nuclear transients (ENTs), which are significantly brighter and longer-lasting than typical supernovae, occurring when massive stars are torn apart by supermassive black holes. These events, observed via the Gaia telescope, offer new insights into black hole growth and the universe's history, and future telescopes are expected to find more of them.

3D Insights into Globular Cluster Formation and Evolution
science1 year ago

3D Insights into Globular Cluster Formation and Evolution

A groundbreaking study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics provides the first 3D kinematic analysis of multiple stellar populations in 16 globular clusters, revealing key insights into their formation and evolution. Conducted by researchers from INAF, the University of Bologna, and Indiana University, the study shows that globular clusters formed through multiple star formation events, with stars exhibiting distinct kinematic properties based on their chemical composition. This research, utilizing data from the ESA Gaia telescope and ESO VLT, offers a new framework for understanding these ancient cosmic structures.

"Massive Stellar Black Hole Discovered Near Earth in Milky Way"
astronomy1 year ago

"Massive Stellar Black Hole Discovered Near Earth in Milky Way"

The European space telescope Gaia has discovered a massive stellar-mass black hole, Gaia-BH3, just 2,000 light years from Earth, making it the second-closest black hole to our planet ever discovered. This landmark finding represents the first time such a massive black hole with a stellar origin has been found close to Earth. The discovery sheds light on the population of dormant stellar black holes in our galaxy and challenges previous assumptions about the formation of black holes.

"Ancient Star Streams: Building Blocks of the Milky Way"
astronomy1 year ago

"Ancient Star Streams: Building Blocks of the Milky Way"

Two ancient streams of stars, named Shiva and Shakti, have been discovered near the center of the Milky Way, dating back to nearly 13 billion years ago. Identified using data from the Gaia telescope, these streams provide insight into the galaxy's early formation and growth, shedding light on its infancy and evolution. The discovery highlights the valuable role of galactic archaeology in understanding the history of the Milky Way and the significance of precise data collection in uncovering surprise elements of our cosmic history.

"Discovery of 13 Billion-Year-Old Star Streams Unravels Milky Way's Origins"
astronomy1 year ago

"Discovery of 13 Billion-Year-Old Star Streams Unravels Milky Way's Origins"

Astronomers have discovered two massive streams of stars, named Shiva and Shakti, near the center of the Milky Way. These ancient structures, containing stars up to 13 billion years old, may be some of the earliest building blocks of our galaxy. The stars in Shiva and Shakti are extremely metal poor, indicating that they are among the oldest in the Milky Way. The discovery was made using the Gaia space telescope, and further research will help understand how these streams contributed to the galaxy's evolution.