Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-sxzjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T22:12:02.426Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The promise of Gaia and how it will influence stellar ages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2008

Carla Cacciari*
Affiliation:
INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna, Via Ranzani 1, 40127 Bologna, Italy email: carla.cacciari@oabo.inaf.it
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The Gaia space project, planned for launch in 2011, is one of the ESA cornerstone missions, and will provide astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic data of very high quality for about one billion stars brighter than V = 20. This will allow to reach an unprecedented level of information and knowledge on several of the most fundamental astrophysical issues, such as mapping of the Milky Way, stellar physics (classification and parameterization), Galactic kinematics and dynamics, study of the resolved stellar populations in the Local Group, distance scale and age of the Universe, dark matter distribution (potential tracers), reference frame (quasars, astrometry), planet detection, fundamental physics, Solar physics, Solar system science.

I will present a description of the instrument and its main characteristics, and discuss a few specific science cases where Gaia data promise to contribute fundamental improvement within the scope of this Symposium.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2009

References

Anderson, J. & King, I. R. 2006, STScI Instrument Science Report ACS 2006-01Google Scholar
Bailer-Jones, C. A. L. 2008, Gaia-C8-TN-MPIA-CBJ-040 in Gaia LivelinkGoogle Scholar
Benedict, G. F., McArthur, B. E., Fredrick, L. W. et al. 2002, AJ, 123, 473CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gaia Concept and Technology Study Report 2000, ESA-SCI(2000)4Google Scholar
Fernley, J., Barnes, T. G., Skillen, I., Hawley, S. L., Hanley, C. J., Evans, D. W., Solano, E., & Garrido, R. 1998, A&A, 330, 515Google Scholar
Ferraro, F. R., Carretta, E., Corsi, C. E.Fusi Pecci, F., Cacciari, C., Buonanno, R., Paltrinieri, B., & Hamilton, D. 1997, A&A, 320, 757Google Scholar
Gratton, R. G., Bragaglia, A., Carretta, E., Clementini, G., Desidera, S., Grundhal, F., & Lucatello, S. 2003, A&A, 408, 529Google Scholar
Harris, W. E. 1996, AJ, 112, 1487 (updates in http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/Globular.html)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jordi, C., Fabricius, C., Figueras, F., Voss, H., & Carrasco, J. M. 2007, Gaia-C5-TN-UB-CJ-042 in Gaia LivelinkGoogle Scholar
Kharchenko, N. V., Piskuniv, A. E., Röser, S., Schilbach, E., & Scholz, R. D. 2005, A&A, 440, 403Google Scholar
King, I., Anderson, J., Cool, A., & Piotto, G. 1998, ApJ, 492, L37CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Leeuwen, F. 2007, Hipparcos, the New Reduction of the Raw Data, Springer, ASSL 350CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Leeuwen, F., Feast, M. W., Whitelock, P. A., & Laney, C. D. 2007, MNRAS, 379, 723CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perryman, M. A. C, Bernacca, P. L., & SOC 1997, ESA SP-402Google Scholar
Pinsonneault, M. H., Stauffer, J., Soderblom, D. R., King, J. R., & Hanson, R. B. 1998, ApJ, 504, 170CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Renzini, A. 1993, Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 688, 124CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robin, A. C., Reylé, C., Derrière, S., & Picaud, S. 2003, A&A, 409, 523Google Scholar
Robin, A. C., Reylé, C., Derrière, S., & Picaud, S. 2004, A&A, 416, 157Google Scholar
Soderblom, D. R., Nelan, E., Benedict, G. F., McArthur, B., Ramirez, I., Spiesman, W., & Jones, B. F. 2005, AJ, 129, 1616CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Straižys, V., Lazauskaitė, R., Brown, A. G. A., & Zdanavičius, K. 2006, Gaia-C8-TN-ITPA-VS-001 in Gaia LivelinkGoogle Scholar
Symposium “The 3-Dimensional Universe with Gaia” 2005, ESA-SP-576Google Scholar