Galactic collision may have given rise to Milky Way's warped shape

The European Space Agency's space observatory Gaia may have found an explanation for the warped shape of the Milky Way Galaxy, which is bent into an S shape.

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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN The European Space Agency's space observatory Gaia may have found an explanation for the warped shape of the Milky Way Galaxy, which is bent into an S shape.

This warp rotates with the galaxy's stars instead of standing still.

A study published in Nature Astronomy says that an ongoing collision with another galaxy, most likely the dwarf satellite galaxy Sagittarius, has disrupted the dish shape of our galaxy.

The European Space Agency launched Gaia in 2013 to render a 3D map of the Milky Way.

The agency says the survey will eventually take a spatial census of 1 billion stars in our galaxy, or 1 percent of its constituents.

Citing the authors, the European Space Agency says that Gaia mapped out the motions, velocity and distance of our galaxy's stars.

The researchers then worked backward to determine when and how collisions with Sagittarius deformed our galactic dish.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

Milky Way Galaxy has an S-shaped dish or warp 2.

The warp could be the result of an ongoing collision with dwarf galaxy Sagittarius 3.

Space probe Gaia's 3D mapping of the galaxy contributes to the study VOICEOVER (in English): "The European Space Agency's space observatory Gaia may have found an explanation for the warped shape of the Milky Way Galaxy, which is bent into an S shape.

This warp rotates with the galaxy's stars instead of standing still." "The European Space Agency launched Gaia in 2013 to render a 3D map of the Milky Way." "The agency says the survey will eventually take a spatial census of 1 billion stars in our galaxy, or 1 percent of its constituents." "A study published in Nature Astronomy says that an ongoing collision with another galaxy, most likely the dwarf satellite galaxy Sagittarius, has disrupted the dish shape of our galaxy." "Citing the authors, the European Space Agency says that Gaia mapped out the motions, velocity and distance of our galaxy's stars.

The researchers then worked backward to determine when and how collisions with Sagittarius deformed our galactic dish." SOURCES: Nature Astronomy, European Space Agency https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1017-3 http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Gaia/Milky_Way_s_warp_caused_by_galactic_collision_Gaia_suggests https://sci.esa.int/web/gaia *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377