The final messages sent to Gaia will continue to be carried out into space as the observatory sleeps, and as data from it continues to contribute to astronomy.

Europe's star-mapping Gaia space observatory has entered its retirement orbit, after gathering valuable cosmic data for more than a decade.

Goodnight, Gaia. The European Space Agency star-tracking satellite ceased operations on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, after 12 years mapping the Milky Way.