Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Aug 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006iaujd..13e...6b&link_type=abstract
Exploiting Large Surveys for Galactic Astronomy, 26th meeting of the IAU, Joint Discussion 13, 22-23 August 2006, Prague, Czech
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Gaia is an all sky astrometric and photometric survey mission which will observe all objects in the sky brighter than magnitude G=20 (V=20-22), some 10^ 9 stars. Gaia will achieve an astrometric accuracy of 12- 25 μas at G=15 (providing a distance accuracy of 1-2% at 1 kpc) and 100-300 μas at G=20 and will measure radial velocities to a precision of 1-10 km/s for brighter sources. To characterize all sources (which are detected in real time), each is observed via low dispersion integral field spectrophotometry. The data processing for Gaia is very complex (self-calibrating; heterogeneous data; little prior information; intrinsically iterative) and is being undertaken by a large consortium of institutes. Fully exploiting the resulting data products will likewise be a challenge: Gaia will be a first in combining photometric and 6D phase space information on such a large scale. The scientific potential is immense. For example, using the kinematics and 3D positions of large numbers of stars across the whole Galaxy we can map its large and small scale structures and thus from a chronology of its formation and evolution (e.g. merger history). Gaia will measure both the gravitational potential of the Galaxy and the stellar luminosity function, from which the distribution of dark matter can be accurately mapped on small scales (< 1 Mpc) for the first time. Accurate distances to thousands of globular and open clusters will significantly improve models of stellar structure and evolution, and the detection of tens of millions of binary systems will permit a calibration of the stellar Mass-Luminosity relation over a wide range of masses and to high accuracy. Gaia is a fully-funded ESA mission due for launch in late 2011. With a nominal mission of five years and 2-3 years planned for post-mission processing, the final catalogue will only be available in about 2020. As it is the only large scale, high-accuracy astrometry mission under construction, it will be a unique source for astronomical discovery. An even bigger impact will be achieved when Gaia's results are combined with those of other upcoming space- and ground-based surveys, and explored using advanced data mining and modelling techniques. accurately mapped on small scales (<1 Mpc) for the first time. Gaia will detect tens of millions of binary systems to permit a calibration of the Mass-Luminosity relation over a wide range of masses to much high precision. In the same way, Gaia will determine orbits for thousands of exoplanetary systems around stars across the whole HR diagram. Accurate distances to thousands of globular and open clusters will significantly improve models of stellar structure and evolution. Gaia will discover and determine the orbits of thousands of asteroids and Near-Earth objects and will provide accurate tests of General Relativity. Beyond the Galaxy, Gaia will measure distances to the Galactic satellites, calibrate the distance ladder and provide a new astrometric reference frame. Gaia is a fully funded mission. The prime contractor, EADS Astrium, provides both the satellite and the scientific instruments. The data processing is the responsibility of the scientific community. This is a very significant challenge, involving numerous complex, iterative and interdependent tasks. Following several years of studies, the community efforts have been assembled into the pan-European Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) which will undertake all of the data processing. During this fringe session, short presentations will be given by members of the DPAC and Gaia Science Team (GST) covering the scientific objectives, satellite design, data processing, ground-based support data and plans for scientific follow-up. In the remainder of the session several GST and DPAC members will be available for discussions. For more information, see the Gaia website at http://www.rssd.esa.int/Gaia/
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