Using the Gaia space telescope, astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany, have identified the earliest “building blocks” of our Milky Way galaxy, dating back 12-13 billion years.
Key points
- These stellar groups, named ‘Shakti’ and ‘Shiva’, provide insights into the galaxy’s formation.
- These ancient stellar streams likely came together to form the very foundation of the galaxy in which we live.
- The stars in ‘Shakti’ and ‘Shiva’ were found to have a higher angular momentum compared to those at the heart of the Milky Way, suggesting they belonged to separate galaxies that merged with our own.
- These stars were low in metal content, indicating they were formed a long time ago. Stars with higher metal content are typically formed more recently.
- The astronomers believe that ‘Shakti’ and ‘Shiva’ might be the first two additions to the heart of the Milky Way, initiating its growth towards becoming a large galaxy.
- This discovery sheds light on the galaxy’s formation process, highlighting the merging of smaller galaxies as a key mechanism in creating the Milky Way’s structure.
