Gaia visualization of Milky Way

Space Missions

The Gaia Revolution: New Data and Strange Stars

Astronomers will use the newest data release from the Gaia mission to explore stellar tsunamis, Milky Way history, and more.

Milky Way

Gaia Makes Most Accurate 3D Map of the Milky Way Yet

Astronomers have released a new, extremely detailed three-dimensional census of our Milky Way galaxy.

Milky Way

Baby Stars Found in Ancient Part of Our Galaxy

Ground- and space-based observations have revealed a group of stars at the head of the giant stream of gas burrowing its way through the Milky Way.

Gaia's map of 1.7 billion stars in the Milky Way and beyond

Milky Way

Our Quiet Galaxy Used to Burst with Stars

New research shows that our quiet, middle-aged galaxy used to be quite the firecracker — a couple billion years ago it was exploding with new stars.

ALMA image of quasar merger

Astronomy & Observing News

60-Second Astro News: A Carnivorous Quasar and a Galaxy Ghost

In astronomy news this week: The most luminous quasar known in the cosmos is devouring three galaxy companions, while a newly discovered ghostly satellite of the Milky Way hints at hordes more just waiting to be found.

Image of Small Magellanic Cloud

Milky Way

Evidence Mounts for a Magellanic Collision

Astronomers have suspected for some time that the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds collided in the recent past. The Gaia space telescope provides striking new evidence for a head-on collision.

Milky Way ancient merger

Galaxies

Ancient Merger Wreckage in the Milky Way

Mounting evidence indicates that our galaxy smashed up another smaller galaxy roughly 10 billion years ago.

Illustration of stars sprinting through our Galaxy

Milky Way

Some Stars Around Galaxy May Be From Elsewhere

Data from the Gaia satellite reveal 20 new high-speed stars, 13 of which appear to have originated outside of the Milky Way.

Gaia

Stellar Science

Mind the Gap: Gaia Mission Reveals the Insides of Stars

Astronomers have discovered a hiccup in stellar luminosities that may point to a new understanding of stellar structure.