Gaia Spots Possible Moons Around Hundreds of Asteroids

ESA's Star-Surveying Satellite Doubles Known Binary Asteroid Systems

Previously, around 156000 asteroids were tracked. Now, over 350 potential asteroid moons have been discovered.

Gaia, the European Space Agency's (ESA) star-surveying satellite, has potentially doubled the number of known binary asteroid systems in our solar system. By precisely tracking the orbit of over 156,000 asteroids, Gaia has discovered over 350 previously unknown possible asteroid moons.

Binary asteroids are difficult to find as they are mostly very small and far away. However, Gaia's precise measurements have allowed scientists to identify these tiny objects by observing the gravitational tug they have on each other.

This discovery has important implications for our understanding of the formation and evolution of asteroids. It also provides valuable information for future missions to these small bodies, which could help us to better understand the history of our solar system.

Gaia's mission is to create the most accurate 3D map of the Milky Way ever made. However, the spacecraft has also been used to study other objects in our solar system, including asteroids and comets. This latest discovery is a testament to Gaia's versatility and its potential for future scientific discoveries.