"With 11 years of operations, Gaia has transformed astronomy and benefited from the contributions of LIP scientists."
The Gaia mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), has concluded its sky observation phase, amassing over three billion measurements of approximately two billion stars and other celestial objects. This achievement is revolutionizing our understanding of the Milky Way, challenging basic concepts about galactic structure and delivering the most precise map of our galaxy to date.
Portugal has played a key role in this mission since its inception. The decision to approve the project included contributions from Teresa Lago, and the national participation has been spearheaded by André Moitinho, a researcher at LIP. André coordinates the development of the Gaia Archive Visualisation Service (GAVS), an essential tool for visualizing mission results, and has led scientific efforts that have gained global recognition.
Gaia's data is transforming the landscape of astronomy, unveiling new discoveries about stars, black holes, and the history of our galaxy. Further data releases are planned for 2026 and the end of the decade, ensuring Gaia’s legacy will continue to inspire and revolutionize science for many years to come.
On March 27, the satellite will be redirected to a "retirement" orbit, officially ending its scientific operations. This date marks not only the end of an era but also the celebration of an unprecedented scientific achievement to which Portugal, and particularly LIP, has made a lasting contribution.