40-Gigapixel / GIGAPIXEL HiPS · One Pixel Per Star

Every pixel
is a real Gaia star.

This is a roughly 40-gigapixel rendering of the Galactic Center region. Star positions, brightness, and colors all come from measured data from the ESA Gaia mission. The image loads progressively as HiPS tiles — drag to pan, scroll to zoom, and fainter stars keep appearing as you zoom in. The Milky Way is not drawn separately: once star density reaches a certain threshold, the structure emerges naturally.