On 4 March, astronomer Zhuo-Xiao Wang captured this view of the sudden disappearance of ESA’s Gaia spacecraft.

After more than 11 years in space mapping the motions and properties of billions of stars, the spacecraft’s operations have come to an end. Gaia was switched off on 27 March 2025.

During a series of final test operations, flight controllers at ESA’s ESOC mission control centre rotated Gaia, causing its sunshield to reflect more light towards Earth. 

As a result, Gaia appeared much brighter than usual and was observed by several citizen astronomers around the world.

Gaia is seen here moving across the sky, initially brightening before vanishing as the spacecraft quickly rotates back to its typical orientation.

This was the final time that Gaia will appear so bright to astronomers on Earth. The spacecraft will now remain ‘dark’ forever. The Gaia mission, however, will continue and culminate in two major data releases that are in preparation for 2026 and no earlier than the end of 2030.

The Gaia team is showcasing the final observations of the spacecraft on the ESA Cosmos website.