#Tag · 𑐴𑐶𑐟𑐶

Ronald Drimmel @rdrimmel@mstdn.social · last month

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The #GaiaMission, after "10.5 years of science operations, Gaia has made some three trillion observations of about two billion stars.." continues.

Observations have ended but data processing has not! Indeed, it takes years of processing to transform these observations into usable quantities (parallax, stellar magnitude, temperature, metallicity..). Next data release in 2026 will be based on half of these observations. The best is yet to come!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2025/01/27/esas-gaia-spacecraft-wraps-up-revolutionary-milky-way-mapping-mission/

Ronald Drimmel @rdrimmel@mstdn.social · last month

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One minor imprecision: The article states "Current models based on data from Gaia and other surveys favor four spiral arms and the presence of a fifth arm or spur, located close to the sun, he said." Actually, with the help of Gaia we now know that what was once thought to be a spur might be an arm in its own right. At the very least it is a long interarm feature. The #GaiaMission is redrawing the portrait of the #MilkyWay!

Galaxy Map @galaxy_map@mastodon.social · last month

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We're now two-thirds of the way to the 100 euros we need to make the new improved Acrux star board game prototype. I'm hoping that we can raise the remaining amount today and I can start work on it this weekend.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. We just need a few more tips to put us over the top (and for me to stop nagging you!)

Please help: https://tiptopjar.com/kevinjardine

#boardgames #astronomy #gaiamission

Galaxy Map @galaxy_map@mastodon.social · 2 months ago

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This Saturday, my star-themed board game, Acrux, based on data from ESA's Gaia and Hipparcos survey missions, will have its public debut at the Dutch Board Games Association (Ducosim) game fair in Amersfoort. I am busy improving my prototype to make it look as good as possible! #boardgames #astronomy #gaiamission

Galaxy Map @galaxy_map@mastodon.social · 2 months ago

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Introducing new player boards and aids for the Acrux star board game. Looking less and less like a prototype and more like a real game.

#boardgames #astronomy #gaiamission

Galaxy Map @galaxy_map@mastodon.social · 2 months ago

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My Acrux board game set up for play. The new action card feature where you are allowed to buy up to three cards that give you one-time powers like jumping to any star or emptying an opponent's ore supply has turned out to be very popular.

After six months of play testing I think the game is basically finished so I am now looking at ways to promote it and find a publisher.

#boardgames #astronomy #gaiamission

Galaxy Map @galaxy_map@mastodon.social · 3 months ago

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Identifying structures in the Gaia mission hot star density data is fun but usually controversial. Here's a map I put up on the weekend. #Astrodon #astronomy #gaiamission