13 reactions · 11 shares | British scientists have led the creation of the first accurate 3D atlas of our galaxy, a map of some 1.8 billion stars that has allowed the mass of the Milky Way to be calculated accurately for the first time https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/gaia-satellite-creates-the-first-accurate-3d-map-of-the-milky-way-g8z5d8mkn | The Times and The Sunday Times | Facebook

The ESA #Gaia mission has delivered the best Milky Way maps to date and taken its last starlight before spacecraft retirement. These new Gaia maps are the best reconstructed views of how our Milky Way galaxy might look to an outside observer. They show us our place in the Universe like no other mission has before. But the science is far from over. Discover what's coming next for the mission and how you could wave Gaia farewell if you own a telescope 👇 https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Spa