Zoom into Gaia’s star-formation map (highlighted)

Scientists created the most accurate 3D map of star-formation regions in our Milky Way galaxy, based on data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope. 

The star-formation region that is mapped out (contoured by a circle) reaches out to 4000 light-years from our Sun. The Sun is located at the centre of this region. Click here for the full view. 

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[Image description: A star-filled region in our galaxy featuring glowing red nebulas within a faint circular outline – highlighting areas of ionised hydrogen gas and active star formation against a dark backdrop of space].