Science in a Minute 051319 Milky Way Had a Stellar Baby Boom 2 to 3 Billion Years Ago

Researchers in Spain and France, analyzed data gathered by the European Space Agency’s GAIA satellite to determine that the Milky Way had a burst of star formation about 2 to 3 billion years ago. The researchers theorize that an outlying “satellite galaxy” crashed and merged with the Milk Way. This merger is thought to have resupplied our galaxy with enough star-making gas to create this “stellar baby boom.”