“Shiva and Shakti”: Two Ancient Streams of Stars Discovered by ESA Gaia

Context

Recently astronauts has discovered to ancient streams of stars Shiva and Shakti which are among the earliest building blocks of Milky way galaxy. 

Gaia Telescope Discovers two Ancient Streams of Stars in the Milky Way

• The European Space Agency’s Gaia has uncovered ancient star streams named Shiva and Shakti.
• This groundbreaking discovery holds immense implications for our understanding of cosmic evolution.

Shiva and Shakti Ancient Streams

• These structures, formed 12 billion years ago, influenced Milky Way formation. 
• Each stream carries the mass of about 10 million Suns.
• Shakti and Shiva share similarities, they are not identical. 
• Shakti stars orbit slightly further from the Milky Way’s center and in more circular paths than those of Shiva. 
• The streams are fittingly named after a divine couple from Hindu philosophy, symbolizing the creation of the Universe.

Gaia Space Observatory

• It is an astronomical observatory mission.
• Goal:  To create the largest, most precise three-dimensional map of the Milky Way by surveying about 1% of the galaxy’s 100 billion stars, mapping their motions, luminosity, temperature and composition.
  • This huge stellar census will provide detailed insights about the origin, structure and evolutionary history of our galaxy.
• Agency: European Space Agency
• Launched in : 2013 & Positioned in : Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange Point.

DOWNLOAD PDF