NEW ANGLE
**Gaia** is changing our impression of the Milky Way
15 January 2025
Gaia has changed our impression of the Milky Way. Even seemingly simple ideas about the nature of our galaxy’s central bar and the spiral arms have been overturned. Gaia has shown us that it has more than two spiral arms and that they are less prominent than we previously thought. In addition, Gaia has shown that its central bar is more inclined with respect to the Sun.
An artist’s animation showcasing only a fraction of what Gaia has scanned of the Milky Way. Credit: ESA/Gaia/DPAC, Stefan Payne-Wardenaar.
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