Tag: Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

Shakti and Shiva: Ancient Star Duos in Milky Way Galaxy’s Tale of Creation
Technology

Shakti and Shiva: Ancient Star Duos in Milky Way Galaxy’s Tale of Creation

[ad_1] Scientists have recently uncovered two ancient streams of stars within the Milky Way Galaxy, dubbed Shakti and Shiva, shedding light on the galaxy's earliest formation stages. These star structures, identified using data from the Gaia space telescope, are believed to have merged with the Milky Way around 12 billion years ago, providing vital clues about its early evolution.Named after Hindu deities, Shakti and Shiva consist of stars with similar chemical compositions, suggesting they formed roughly 12-13 billion years ago. Each structure boasts a mass about 10 million times greater than the sun, underscoring their significance in the galaxy's formative years. This discovery marks a crucial milestone in understanding the galaxy's turbulent infancy. Lead researcher Khyati Malhan fr...