Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery using the Gaia space telescope, revealing ancient star streams named Shakti and Shiva that played a crucial role in the growth of the Milky Way galaxy over 12 billion years ago. These star streams are believed to be remnants of galaxies that merged with an early version of the Milky Way, billions of years ago.
Thanks to Gaia’s unprecedented data, scientists were able to detect these ancient structures, shedding new light on the Milky Way’s earliest days and the evolution of massive galaxies. By analyzing nearly 6 million stars observed by Gaia, researchers located the two streams of ancient stars near the heart of the Milky Way. These stars in Shakti and Shiva share similar age, orbit, and composition, suggesting they were once part of an outside source that merged with our galaxy.
The discovery of Shakti and Shiva has been compared to finding traces of an ancient settlement that eventually grew into a large city, providing valuable insights into the history of the Milky Way. Gaia has been instrumental in helping astronomers uncover previously unknown structures within the galaxy and piece together its long and complex history.
By studying these ancient star streams, researchers hope to unlock more secrets about the Milky Way’s past merger events, with future observations expected to offer even greater insights into the galaxy’s evolution. Gaia’s remarkable capabilities continue to revolutionize our understanding of the universe, making significant contributions to the field of astronomy.
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