Thursday, December 19, 2013

In the space telescope launched Gaia, which will make a three-dimensional map of the galaxy - BBC News

In orbit, the company launched the telescope Hubble Gaia. This new telescope – a project of the European Space Agency. In space it gets in using the Russian Soyuz rocket. What secrets are going to share astronomers?

At this point, the European Space Agency engineers preparing for 20 years: the stars sent telescope Gaia. His task – to make a three-dimensional map of our Galaxy. Heavy machine to distant calculated orbit could only withdraw Russian rocket “Soyuz” upper stage “Fregat”. She had to start with the most convenient for the spaceport project, which is located in French Guiana. Starting mission was successful.

“We watched as the spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle – the director of manned space programs of the European Space Agency, Thomas Reiter. – We are able to quickly establish a connection with the satellite. Our team continues to check the operation of all systems, all still operating normally “.

About a month Gaia must go into orbit remote from the surface of our planet and a half million kilometers. At this point, neither the Earth, the Sun and the other celestial bodies will not interfere with the telescope to observe the Milky Way galaxy. The device will not only determine the location of a billion stars, but their temperature, physical composition, speed and range of the emitted light.

“The data that we receive will allow us to make much more accurate star map than the one we enjoy now, – said the deputy head of mission Gaia Micah Schmidt. – Navigation System spacecraft and satellites are now working snapshot-based telescope Hipparcos, the mission of which ended 20 years ago. Accuracy pictures and measurements of the ship Gaia is far higher “.

The unit established the largest and most sensitive digital matrix ever created for space projects. Resolution in pixels billion from Earth would see a coin on the lunar surface. With Gaia scientists plan to open thousands of new space objects, including – planets and potentially dangerous asteroids. And to answer the main question of how star clusters, gas, dust and dark matter formed under gravity Galaxy.

“the first time we will be able to so fully consider our galaxy – promises Mark Makkougrin, scientific director of the mission Gaia. – Telescope detects the orientation of a billion stars, measure their speed and trajectory of motion. This will allow us to create videomodel Milky Way predict future processes and understand how to develop the Galaxy. And also look into the past and see how the Milky Way formed “.

project budget has already exceeded 750 million euros. But there is one more important step – processing the information received. Analyze images and graphics supercomputer will in Toulouse and six astronomical centers. According to scientists, Gaia will send to Earth more than a petabyte of data. But the questions they will have more questions than answers.

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