Gaia's Serendipitous Discovery

ESA's Star-Surveying Satellite Reveals Hidden Treasures

Over 350 Potential Moons Spotted Around Asteroids

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Gaia mission, initially dedicated to charting stars, has stumbled upon an unexpected discovery: potential moons orbiting asteroids. By meticulously tracking the orbits of over 156,000 asteroids, Gaia has detected celestial objects circling more than 350 of them, suggesting the presence of previously unknown moons.

Gaia's primary objective lies in mapping the Milky Way galaxy, measuring star positions and movements with unprecedented accuracy. However, its keen observations have also shed light on other cosmic wonders, including asteroids.

As Gaia monitored asteroids passing near its field of view, it noticed subtle deviations in their trajectories. These variations hinted at the gravitational influence of nearby objects, suggesting the presence of orbiting moons. By analyzing these anomalies, scientists have identified over 350 candidates for potential asteroid moons.

The discovery of these potential moons holds significant implications for our understanding of asteroid systems and the formation of celestial bodies. It opens up new avenues for research on the evolution of asteroids and the dynamics of small bodies in the Solar System.