Gaia, the European Space Agency's space telescope that has been in space for 11 years, completes its mission. This space observatory is responsible for mapping the Milky Way galaxy with unprecedented precision and has revolutionised our understanding of our Galaxy.
Gaia is running out of nitrogen gas, which it uses to precisely control its rotational motion through space. So, in a few weeks' time, Gaia will leave its current orbit and will be propelled into its final heliocentric orbit, far from Earth's sphere of influence. Finally, on 27 March 2025. "Gaia will be completely shut down.
On 30 March, at 14:00, a public event at the VU Molėtai Astronomical Observatory will include the opening of an exhibition on the Gaia mission (in Lithuanian, Spanish or English) and a lecture on "The Gaia Revolution" (in Lithuanian), which will provide an overview of the most important achievements of the Gaia Observatory. We will invite you to a guided tour of the VU Observatory (in Lithuanian, Spanish or English).
Limited number of attendants, registration required.
The event is free of charge