A European Space Agency space observatory launched in 2013 to measure the positions, distances and motions of nearly two billion stars with unprecedented precision, building the most detailed three-dimensional map of the Milky Way yet made. It observed from near the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point until its science observations ended in January 2025.
Facts
Observatory TypeSpace astrometry observatory 2 LocationNear the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point 2 OperationalRoutine science observations began in 2014, after a December 2013 launch. MeasuresPerforms astrometry, precisely measuring the positions, distances (via parallax) and proper motions of roughly a billion stars. 3 Operating PrincipleUses two telescopes fixed at a 106.5-degree angle feeding one shared CCD focal plane, spinning continuously to scan the whole sky and observe each star repeatedly. 3 Classification
Observing Band Connections
Associated With
Operated By
Source European Space Agency: History
Sources
1. European Space Agency: Gaia overview
European Space AgencySpacecraftQuote, Spacecraft
At its heart, Gaia contained two optical telescopes that worked with three science instruments to precisely determine the location of stars and their velocities
2. European Space Agency: History
European Space Agency
3. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationGaia (spacecraft), History section
The name "Gaia" was originally derived as an acronym for Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics.
Gaia (spacecraft), Objectives section
To determine the intrinsic luminosity of a star requires knowledge of its distance
Gaia (spacecraft), Measurement principles section
Gaia consisted of two telescopes providing two observing directions with a fixed, wide angle of 106.5° between them
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