"Milky Way Mapping" is an attempt to uncover the mysteries & create an index of the Earth's Galaxy. Gaia scanning has produced a very comprehensive 3 dimensional (3D) map of a conglomerate of billions of stars, suns and planets in the Milky Way galaxy.
According to Gamenguide, "Milky Way Mapping" dates back in1958 when Jan Ort, Frank Kerr and Gart made an initial study on the spiral nebula of the galaxy. They had conducted the first mapping of the Milky Way in Australia and the Netherlands with the use of radio - telescopes.
Gaia spacecraft 5-year scanning mission had been launched by the European Space Agency, since 2014. According to Space, Gaia is successful in the "Milky Way Mapping". The results of the scanning are an updated index that shows the location, structure, motion and even the history of the milky way galaxy.
The initial data generated in the "Milky Way Mapping" produced an accurate catalogue of the 1.142 billion stars in terms of brightness. Also, 2 million stars have been recorded as to their specific location and movements.
"Milky Way Mapping" has taken center stage in the study of the astrometry. The Gaia scanning spacecraft will take approximately 10,000 years to scan and take photos of the galaxy. In another 10,000 years, the photos will reach Earth and will give a comprehensive picture of the Milky Way.
Gaia is an optical telescope that is used by ESA in the "Milky Way Mapping". Its speed is not that fast compared to the speed of light. Gaia's target date of completing the measurement of the distance of the 1 billion stars is in 2020.
'Milky Way Mapping" with the Gaia mission is an attempt to construct the most complete, precise and detailed catalog of Earth's galaxy, the Milky Way.