FfFfFfFF 58,072 Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Astronomers have unveiled the most precise 3D map yet of the Milky Way, an achievement that promises to shed fresh light on the workings of the galaxy and the mysteries of the broader universe. The vast electronic atlas was compiled from data gathered by the European Space Agency’s Gaia observatory which has been scanning the heavens since it blasted off in 2013 from Kourou in French Guiana. By charting the positions and movements of the stars, the probe has uncovered destructive processes beyond the edge of the Milky Way. A faint stream of stars spotted between two nearby galaxies is evidence that the more massive Large Magellanic Cloud is steadily devouring the more diminutive Small Magellanic Cloud: Caroline Harper, the head of space science at the UK Space Agency, said: “For thousands of years, we have been preoccupied with noting and detailing the stars and their precise locations as they expanded humanity’s understanding of our cosmos. “Gaia has been staring at the heavens for the past seven years, mapping the positions and velocities of stars. Thanks to its telescopes we have in our possession today the most detailed billion-star 3D atlas ever assembled.” Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/03/astronomers-unveil-most-detailed-3d-map-yet-of-milky-way Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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