Which technology defines the modern era of high-precision astrometry by avoiding atmospheric distortion?
Answer
The European Space Agency’s Gaia mission satellite
The historical challenge of atmospheric blurring and instrumental limitations historically hindered precise astrometry. The modern era is characterized by dedicated space missions engineered to operate above Earth's distorting atmosphere. The most significant current endeavor in this field is the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission. This sophisticated astrometric satellite is specifically designed to map the positions and motions of billions of stars in the Milky Way with unprecedented accuracy, targeting position measurements down to a few microarcseconds for its brightest stars.
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