Farewell to Gaia: A Decade of Stellar Discovery

After more than a decade of groundbreaking work, the ESA's Gaia space telescope has been sent into retirement orbit. Launched in 2013, Gaia meticulously charted nearly two billion stars, revealing vital information about our Milky Way and beyond.

It discovered new exoplanets, identified over 50 dwarf galaxies, and tracked 150,000 asteroids. The mission, which cost around one billion euros, has produced a wealth of data, with only a fraction released so far.

While Gaia will remain in orbit for a century, scientists will continue to analyze its findings, with the final star catalog expected by 2030. This remarkable mission has significantly enriched our understanding of the universe, paving the way for future astronomical exploration.