ESA’s million-year time machine

Imagine that we could take control of time and run it backwards and forwards to see how the Milky Way evolved in the past and how it will do so in the future. Well, that’s what the ESA Gaia space observatory does by mapping almost every visible star in the Milky Way. This is how one small satellite is giving us an insight into the past and the future.

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Written, Researched and Presented by Paul Shillito

Images and footage : NASA, ESA, Aardman Animation

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Music from the Youtube library
Two Moons by Bobby Richards

[CausticLemons]

I've never heard of this. That sensor setup was crazy! I love seeing how much data they're able to gather with such clever equipment.

[streetwind.]

I always call Gaia "the most impressive space mission nobody talks about". Good to see it get some well-deserved spotlight! :)

[JakeTheBear]

Last time I heard about this project was almost 10 years ago. Nice to know that the experiments are doing great!

[realzachfluke]

I've been beating the war drum for Gaia for years now, it's SUCH an incredible, and important mission. Thank you for featuring it, I see a lot of people in the comments learning about its existence for the first time, which is *fantastic.*

We're going to be sifting through all of the Gaia data drops for decades, literal DECADES to come. ESA nailed it on this one, and essentially everything else they do to be fair. I mean I personally think NASA and ESA should get, and deserve, _significantly higher yearly budgets_ than they're getting, but that's just a policy choice for all of our democracies to duke out—my point is, money spent on the European Space Agency and NASA alike are dollars well spent (I think you know what I mean when I say "dollars" lol, any and every currency is welcome to be put toward human space exploration)!!!

[phenomagator]

What an amazing achievement this is when you think about it. Mapping the universe like our ancestors mapped their place on Earth. Imagine the adventures that will be planned with a map like that...

[StYxXx]

ESA doesn't build the most famous instruments (ordinary people sometimes never hear of them at all) but from a scientific view they're some of the best :)

[igortumbas]

Paul, you are my hero! I love your videos! I am very interested in the topics you cover and you do it so well.

[DogmaticAtheist]

The graphic at 10:06 is incredible. I want that on loop as my screensaver

[chrismv]

What a magnificent use of technology. The amount of information it has gathered and will gather really will inform us as much as the two NASA telescopes. Bravo and Brava ESA.

[CMMANDR_ZER]

Always makes me happy when a curious droid notification appears.
Helps me know you're still okay.

[SteveDay-nphr]

Hi Paul, thank you for covering this wonderful mission.
At the end of life, when you're asked "What have you contributed in life?" I can say as Materials Controller at e2v Technologies. In playing my part, in a team of a special group of people. To provide 106 CCD91-72 flight model imaging devices for this project.

[danieldmg]

This is fantastic! I am amazed by the ingenuity we can achieve...

[olivier]

That is, to me, a pleasant change from your latest video about war/weapons/fighter jets. And a very interesting video, thank you.

[StuartLutes]

Your videos are consistently interesting and beautifully put together. Please keep it up.

[RWBHere]

To be able to measure the angle between two edges of a coin at the same distance from the Earth as the Moon is an almost incomprehensible level of resolution accuracy. Thanks for that illustration, Ian. 👁👍

[andybibby]

The every first yt channel I ever subscribed too, and still my favourite. Thanks for sharing.

[Mr.MashenIt]

Always great, well-thought-out content.

[leeroychang]

I very much enjoyed this video. One of the best I've watched, not just of yours, but of all time. This is what YouTube is for! Excellent.

[hullinstruments]

I've always been fascinated with it since I heard about it in school visiting NASA in Huntsville Alabama. Its contribution always seemed so massive and incredibly relevant to all forms of science and study. and I was always curious why you didn't get such fanfare like the jwst. As a photonics and optics nerd semi professionally.... The sensor array and optical engine or pornographic and absolutely one of the most beautifully designed things I'd ever seen as a younger man. Holds true to this day

[Robbo]

Wow, heard about this before, an incredible piece of engineering and gathering really useful information, thank you for dedication and such a great video