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    Gaia - ESA's Galactic Census

    Publication date: 15 Jun 2012

    Journal: ESA Brochure
    Volume: BR-269
    Page: 1-16
    Year: 2012

    Copyright: ESA

    Cataloguing the night sky is an essential part of astronomy. Before astronomers can investigate a celestial object, they must know where to find it. Without this knowledge, astronomers would wander helplessly in what Galileo once termed a 'dark labyrinth'.

    ESA's Gaia mission will create a detailed map of this labyrinth, finding clues to the origin, structure and evolution of our home galaxy, the Milky Way.

    Contents:

    • The discovery machine
    • Stars as individuals and collectives
    • Our Solar System and others
    • How does Gaia work?
    • Building Gaia
    • Launch
    • The flood of data

    Link to Publication

    Last Update: 17 Mar 2013

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