Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe with Gaia: A New Way to Measure Microlensing Events
Today, astronomers announced a major breakthrough in their understanding of microlensing events, an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when a distant object passes in front of a bright background star, causing the light from the star to be magnified. Using data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission, they were able to accurately measure the size and mass of the object causing the microlensing event. This knowledge will enable researchers to gain a better understanding of the nature of these objects and their role in the universe. The results of the study, which were published in the journal Nature Astronomy, have major implications for astronomy and astrophysics.
source: Phys.org