Showing papers by "Anthony G. A. Brown published in 2017"

Prospects for detection of detached double white dwarf binaries with Gaia, LSST and LISA

Abstract: Double white dwarf (DWD) binaries are expected to be very common in the Milky Way, but their intrinsic faintness challenges the detection of these systems. Currently, only a few tens of detached DWDs are know. Such systems offer the best chance of extracting the physical properties that would allow us to address a wealth of outstanding questions ranging from the nature of white dwarfs and thermonuclear supernovae, over stellar and binary evolution to mapping the Galaxy. In this paper, we explore the prospects for detections of ultra-compact (with binary separations of a few solar radii or less) detached DWDs in (1) optical radiation with Gaia and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and (2) gravitational wave radiation with Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LISA). We show that Gaia, LSST and LISA have the potential to detect, respectively, around a few hundred, a thousand and 25 thousand DWD systems. Moreover, Gaia and LSST data will extend by, respectively, a factor of 2 and 7 the guaranteed sample of LISA verification sources, binaries detectable in electromagnetic and gravitational wave radiation, opening the era of multimessenger astronomy for these sources.

Gaia Data Release 1. Testing the parallaxes with local Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars

Abstract: Parallaxes for 331 classical Cepheids, 31 Type II Cepheids and 364 RR Lyrae stars in common between Gaia and the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues are published in Gaia Data Release 1 (DR1) as part of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS). In order to test these first parallax measurements of the primary standard candles of the cosmological distance ladder, that involve astrometry collected by Gaia during the initial 14 months of science operation, we compared them with literature estimates and derived new period-luminosity ($PL$), period-Wesenheit ($PW$) relations for classical and Type II Cepheids and infrared $PL$, $PL$-metallicity ($PLZ$) and optical luminosity-metallicity ($M_V$-[Fe/H]) relations for the RR Lyrae stars, with zero points based on TGAS. The new relations were computed using multi-band ($V,I,J,K_{\mathrm{s}},W_{1}$) photometry and spectroscopic metal abundances available in the literature, and applying three alternative approaches: (i) by linear least squares fitting the absolute magnitudes inferred from direct transformation of the TGAS parallaxes, (ii) by adopting astrometric-based luminosities, and (iii) using a Bayesian fitting approach. TGAS parallaxes bring a significant added value to the previous Hipparcos estimates. The relations presented in this paper represent first Gaia-calibrated relations and form a "work-in-progress" milestone report in the wait for Gaia-only parallaxes of which a first solution will become available with Gaia's Data Release 2 (DR2) in 2018.

Gaia Data Release 1. The photometric data

Abstract: Context. This paper presents an overview of the photometric data that are part of the first Gaia data release. Aims. The principles of the processing and the main characteristics of the Gaia photometric data are presented. Methods. The calibration strategy is outlined briefly and the main properties of the resulting photometry are presented. Results. Relations with other broadband photometric systems are provided. The overall precision for the Gaia photometry is shown to be at the milli-magnitude level and has a clear potential to improve further in future releases.

Search for gravitational waves from Scorpius X-1 in the first Advanced LIGO observing run with a hidden Markov model

Abstract: Results are presented from a semicoherent search for continuous gravitational waves from the brightest low-mass X-ray binary, Scorpius X-1, using data collected during the first Advanced LIGO observing run. The search combines a frequency domain matched filter (Bessel-weighted F-statistic) with a hidden Markov model to track wandering of the neutron star spin frequency. No evidence of gravitational waves is found in the frequency range 60–650 Hz. Frequentist 95% confidence strain upper limits, h^(95%)_0 = 4.0 × 10^(−25), 8.3 × 10^(−25), and 3.0 × 10^(−25) for electromagnetically restricted source orientation, unknown polarization, and circular polarization, respectively, are reported at 106 Hz. They are ≤ 10 times higher than the theoretical torque-balance limit at 106 Hz.

Theia: Faint objects in motion or the new astrometry frontier

Abstract: In the context of the ESA M5 (medium mission) call we proposed a new satellite mission, Theia, based on relative astrometry and extreme precision to study the motion of very faint objects in the Universe. Theia is primarily designed to study the local dark matter properties, the existence of Earth-like exoplanets in our nearest star systems and the physics of compact objects. Furthermore, about 15 $\%$ of the mission time was dedicated to an open observatory for the wider community to propose complementary science cases. With its unique metrology system and "point and stare" strategy, Theia's precision would have reached the sub micro-arcsecond level. This is about 1000 times better than ESA/Gaia's accuracy for the brightest objects and represents a factor 10-30 improvement for the faintest stars (depending on the exact observational program). In the version submitted to ESA, we proposed an optical (350-1000nm) on-axis TMA telescope. Due to ESA Technology readiness level, the camera's focal plane would have been made of CCD detectors but we anticipated an upgrade with CMOS detectors. Photometric measurements would have been performed during slew time and stabilisation phases needed for reaching the required astrometric precision.

3D motions in the Sculptor dwarf galaxy as a glimpse of a new era

Abstract: The 3D motions of stars in small galaxies beyond our own are minute and yet they are crucial for our understanding of the nature of gravity and dark matter. Even for the dwarf galaxy Sculptor which is one of the best studied systems and inferred to be strongly dark matter dominated, there are conflicting reports on its mean motion around the Milky Way and the 3D internal motions of its stars have never been measured. Here we report, based on data from the Gaia space mission and the Hubble Space Telescope, a new precise measurement of Sculptor's mean proper motion. From this we deduce that Sculptor is currently at its closest approach to the Milky Way and moving on an elongated high-inclination orbit that takes it much farther away than previously thought. For the first time we are also able to measure the internal motions of stars in Sculptor. We find $\sigma_{R}=11.5 \pm 4.3$ km/s and $\sigma_{T}=8.5\pm3.2$ km/s along the projected radial and tangential directions, implying that the stars in our sample move preferentially on radial orbits as quantified by the anisotropy parameter, which we find to be $\beta\sim 0.86^{+0.12}_{-0.83}$ at a location beyond the core radius. Taken at face value such a high radial anisotropy requires abandoning conventional models for the mass distribution in Sculptor. Our sample is dominated by metal-rich stars and for these we find $\beta^{MR} \sim 0.95^{+0.04}_{-0.27}$, a value consistent with multi-component models where Sculptor is embedded in a cuspy dark halo as expected for cold dark matter.

The rate of stellar encounters along a migrating orbit of the Sun

Abstract: The frequency of Galactic stellar encounters the Solar system experienced depends on the local density and velocity dispersion along the orbit of the Sun in the Milky Way galaxy. We aim at determining the effect of the radial migration of the solar orbit on the rate of stellar encounters. As a first step we integrate the orbit of the Sun backwards in time in an analytical potential of the Milky Way. We use the present-day phase-space coordinates of the Sun, according to the measured uncertainties. The resulting orbits are inserted in an N-body simulation of the Galaxy, where the stellar velocity dispersion is calculated at each position along the orbit of the Sun. We compute the rate of Galactic stellar encounters by employing three different solar orbits ---migrating from the inner disk, without any substantial migration, and migrating from the outer disk. We find that the rate for encounters within $4\times10^5$ AU from the Sun is approximately 21, 39 and 63 Myr$^{-1}$, respectively. The stronger encounters establish the outer limit of the so-called parking zone, which is the region in the plane of the orbital eccentricities and semi-major axes where the planetesimals of the Solar system have been perturbed only by interactions with stars belonging to the Sun's birth cluster. We estimate the outer edge of the parking zone at semi-major axes of 250--1300 AU (the outward and inward migrating orbits reaching the smallest and largest values, respectively), which is one order of magnitude smaller than the determination made by Portegies Zwart & J\'ilkov\'a (2015). We further discuss the effect of stellar encounters on the stability of the hypothetical Planet 9.

Mapping young stellar populations toward Orion with Gaia DR1

Abstract: In this work we use the first data release of the Gaia mission to explore the three-dimensional arrangement and age ordering of the many stellar groups toward the Orion OB association, aiming at a new classification and characterization of the stellar population not embedded in the Orion A and B molecular clouds. We make use of the parallaxes and proper motions provided in the Tycho Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) subset of the Gaia Data Release 1 (DR1) catalog and of the combination of Gaia DR1 and 2MASS photometry. In TGAS, we find evidence for the presence of a young population at a parallax ϖ ~ 2.65 mas, which is loosely distributed around the following known clusters: 25 Ori, ϵ Ori, and σ Ori, and NGC 1980 (ι Ori) and the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). The low mass counterpart of this population is visible in the color magnitude diagrams constructed by combining Gaia DR1 G -band photometry and 2MASS. We study the density distribution of the young sources in the sky using a kernel density estimation (KDE). We find the same groups as in TGAS and also some other density enhancements that might be related to the recently discovered Orion X group, Orion dust ring, and λ Ori complex. The maps also suggest that the 25 Ori group presents a northern elongation. We estimated the ages of this population using a Bayesian isochronal fitting procedure assuming a unique parallax value for all the sources, and we inferred the presence of an age gradient going from 25 Ori (13−15 Myr) to the ONC (1−2 Myr). We confirmed this age ordering by repeating the Bayesian fit using the Pan-STARRS1 data. Intriguingly, the estimated ages toward the NGC 1980 cluster span a broad range of values. This can either be due to the presence of two populations coming from two different episodes of star formation or to a large spread along the line of sight of the same population. Some confusion might arise from the presence of unresolved binaries, which are not modeled in the fit, and usually mimic a younger population. Finally, we provisionally relate the stellar groups to the gas and dust features in Orion. Our results form the first step toward using Gaia data to unravel the complex star formation history of the Orion region in terms of the various star formation episodes, their duration, and their effects on the surrounding interstellar medium.

An artificial neural network to discover hypervelocity stars: candidates in Gaia DR1/TGAS

Abstract: The paucity of hypervelocity stars (HVSs) known to date has severely hampered their potential to investigate the stellar population of the Galactic Centre and the Galactic Potential. The first Gaia data release gives an opportunity to increase the current sample. The challenge is the disparity between the expected number of hypervelocity stars and that of bound background stars. We have applied a novel data mining algorithm based on machine learning techniques, an artificial neural network, to the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (TGAS) catalogue. With no pre-selection of data, we could exclude immediately $\sim 99 \%$ of the stars in the catalogue and find 80 candidates with more than $90\%$ predicted probability to be HVSs, based only on their position, proper motions, and parallax. We have cross-checked our findings with other spectroscopic surveys, determining radial velocities for 30 and spectroscopic distances for 5 candidates. In addition, follow-up observations have been carried out at the Isaac Newton Telescope for 22 stars, for which we obtained radial velocities and distance estimates. We discover 14 stars with a total velocity in the Galactic rest frame > 400 km/s, and 5 of these have a probability $>50\%$ of being unbound from the Milky Way. Tracing back their orbits in different Galactic potential models we find one possible unbound HVS with velocity $\sim$ 520 km/s, 5 bound HVSs, and, notably, 5 runaway stars with median velocity between 400 and 780 km/s. At the moment, uncertainties in the distance estimates and ages are too large to confirm the nature of our candidates by narrowing down their ejection location, and we wait for future Gaia releases to validate the quality of our sample. This test successfully demonstrates the feasibility of our new data mining routine.

Mapping young stellar populations towards Orion with Gaia DR1

Abstract: We use the first data release of the Gaia mission to explore the three dimensional arrangement and the age ordering of the many stellar groups towards the Orion OB association, aiming at a new classification and characterization of the stellar population. We make use of the parallaxes and proper motions provided in the Tycho Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) sub-set of the Gaia catalogue, and of the combination of Gaia and 2MASS photometry. In TGAS we find evidence for the presence of a young population, at a parallax $\varpi \sim 2.65 \, \mathrm{mas}$, loosely distributed around some known clusters: 25 Ori, $\epsilon$ Ori and $\sigma$ Ori, and NGC 1980 ($\iota$ Ori). The low mass counterpart of this population is visible in the color-magnitude diagrams constructed by combining Gaia and 2MASS photometry. We study the density distribution of the young sources in the sky. We find the same groups as in TGAS, and also some other density enhancements that might be related to the recently discovered Orion X group, the Orion dust ring, and to the $\lambda$ Ori complex. We estimate the ages of this population and we infer the presence of an age gradient going from 25 Ori (13-15 Myr) to the ONC (1-2 Myr). We confirm this age ordering by repeating the Bayesian fit using the Pan-STARRS1 data. The estimated ages towards the NGC 1980 cluster span a broad range of values. This can either be due to the presence of two populations coming from two different episodes of star formation or to a large spread along the line of sight of the same population. Our results form the first step towards using the Gaia data to unravel the complex star formation history of the Orion region in terms of the different star formation episodes, their duration, and their effects on the surrounding interstellar medium.

Gaia Data Release 1 - Validation of the photometry

Abstract: This work has been supported by the UK Space Agency, the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7-SPACE-2013-1) under grant agreement no. 606740. This work was supported in part by the MINECO (Spanish Ministry of Economy) - FEDER through grant ESP2013-48318-C2-1-R and MDM-2014-0369 of ICCUB (Unidad de Excelencia ‘Maria de Maeztu’). We also thank the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) through grants ARS/96/77, ARS/98/92, ARS/99/81, I/R/32/00, I/R/117/01, COFIS-OF06-01, ASI I/016/07/0, ASI I/037/08/0, ASI I/058/10/0, ASI 2014-025-R.0, ASI 2014-025-R.1.2015, and the Istituto Nazionale di AstroFisica (INAF). The work was supported by the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA) and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) through grant NWO-M-614.061.414. This research has made use of the APASS database, located at the AAVSO web site. Funding for APASS has been provided by the Robert Martin Ayers Sciences Fund.

Gaia Data Release 1. The archive visualisation service

Abstract: Context. The first Gaia data release (DR1) delivered a catalogue of astrometry and photometry for over a billion astronomical sources. Within the panoplyof methods used for data exploration, visualisation is often the starting point and even the guiding reference for scientific thought. However, this is a volume of data that cannot be efficiently explored using traditional tools, techniques, and habits. Aims. We aim to provide a global visual exploration service for the Gaia archive, something that is not possible out of the box for most people. The service has two main goals. The first is to provide a software platform for interactive visual exploration of the archive contents, using common personal computers and mobile devices available to most users. The second aim is to produce intelligible and appealing visual representations of the enormous information content of the archive. Methods. The interactive exploration service follows a client-server design. The server runs close to the data, at the archive, and is responsible for hiding as far as possible the complexity and volume of the Gaia data from the client. This is achieved by serving visual detail on demand. Levels of detail are pre-computed using data aggregation and subsampling techniques. For DR1, the client is a web application that provides an interactive multi-panel visualisation workspace as well as a graphical user interface. Results. The Gaia archive Visualisation Service offers a web-based multi-panel interactive visualisation desktop in a browser tab. It currently provides highly configurable 1D histograms and 2D scatter plots of Gaia DR1 and the Tycho -Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) with linked views. An innovative feature is the creation of ADQL queries from visually defined regions in plots. These visual queries are ready for use in the Gaia Archive Search/data retrieval service. In addition, regions around user-selected objects can be further examined with automatically generated SIMBAD searches. Integration of the Aladin Lite and JS9 applications add support to the visualisation of HiPS and FITS maps. The production of the all-sky source density map that became the iconic image of Gaia DR1 is described in detail. Conclusions. On the day of DR1, over seven thousand users accessed the Gaia Archive visualisation portal. The system, running on a single machine, proved robust and did not fail while enabling thousands of users to visualise and explore the over one billion sources in DR1. There are still several limitations, most noticeably that users may only choose from a list of pre-computed visualisations. Thus, other visualisation applications that can complement the archive service are examined. Finally, development plans for Data Release 2 are presented.

The Gaia sky: version 1.0

Abstract: In this contribution I provide a brief summary of the contents of Gaia DR1. This is followed by a discussion of studies in the literature that attempt to characterize the quality of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution parallaxes in Gaia DR1, and I point out a misconception about the handling of the known systematic errors in the Gaia DR1 parallaxes. I highlight some of the more unexpected uses of the Gaia DR1 data and close with a look ahead at the next Gaia data releases, with Gaia DR2 coming up in April 2018.

Gaia Data Release 1: The archive visualisation service

Abstract: Context: The first Gaia data release (DR1) delivered a catalogue of astrometry and photometry for over a billion astronomical sources. Within the panoply of methods used for data exploration, visualisation is often the starting point and even the guiding reference for scientific thought. However, this is a volume of data that cannot be efficiently explored using traditional tools, techniques, and habits. Aims: We aim to provide a global visual exploration service for the Gaia archive, something that is not possible out of the box for most people. The service has two main goals. The first is to provide a software platform for interactive visual exploration of the archive contents, using common personal computers and mobile devices available to most users. The second aim is to produce intelligible and appealing visual representations of the enormous information content of the archive. Methods: The interactive exploration service follows a client-server design. The server runs close to the data, at the archive, and is responsible for hiding as far as possible the complexity and volume of the Gaia data from the client. This is achieved by serving visual detail on demand. Levels of detail are pre-computed using data aggregation and subsampling techniques. For DR1, the client is a web application that provides an interactive multi-panel visualisation workspace as well as a graphical user interface. Results: The Gaia archive Visualisation Service offers a web-based multi-panel interactive visualisation desktop in a browser tab. It currently provides highly configurable 1D histograms and 2D scatter plots of Gaia DR1 and the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) with linked views. An innovative feature is the creation of ADQL queries from visually defined regions in plots. [abridged]

Gaia: on the road to DR2

Abstract: The second Gaia data release (DR2) is scheduled for April 2018. While Gaia DR1 had increased the number of stars with parallaxes by a factor 20 with respect to the Hipparcos catalogue, Gaia DR2 will bring another factor 500 increase, with parallaxes (and proper motions) for more than a billion stars. In addition, Gaia DR2 will deliver improved accuracy and precision for the astrometric and photometric data, $G$, $G_\mathrm{BP}$, $G_\mathrm{RP}$ magnitudes, radial velocities, identification and characterisation of variable stars and asteroids as well as stellar parameters for stars down to $G = 17$ mag. On behalf of the teams of the Gaia-DPAC consortium, these proceedings give a foretaste of Gaia DR2, 6 months before the release.

Gaia Data Release 1: Validation of the photometry

Abstract: Aims. The photometric validation of the Gaia DR1 release of the ESA Gaia mission is described and the quality of the data shown. Methods. This is carried out via an internal analysis of the photometry using the most constant sources. Comparisons with external photometric catalogues are also made, but are limited by the accuracies and systematics present in these catalogues. An analysis of the quoted errors is also described. Investigations of the calibration coefficients reveal some of the systematic effects that affect the fluxes. Results. The analysis of the constant sources shows that the early-stage photometric calibrations can reach an accuracy as low as 3 mmag.

The Gaia sky : version 1.0

Abstract: In this contribution I provide a brief summary of the contents of Gaia DR1. This is followed by a discussion of studies in the literature that attempt to characterize the quality of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution parallaxes in Gaia DR1, and I point out a misconception about the handling of the known systematic errors in the Gaia DR1 parallaxes. I highlight some of the more unexpected uses of the Gaia DR1 data and close with a look ahead at the next Gaia data releases, with Gaia DR2 coming up in April 2018.

Astrometric Galactic maser measurements cross-matched with Gaia

Abstract: Using the VLBA, the BeSSeL survey has provided distances and proper motions of young massive stars, allowing an accurate measure of the Galactic spiral structure. By the same technique, we are planning to map the inner Galaxy using positions and velocities of evolved stars (provided by the BAaDE survey). These radio astrometric measurements (BeSSeL and BAaDE) will be complementary to Gaia results and the overlap will provide important clues on the intrinsic properties and population distribution of the stars in the bulge.

Finding evolved stars in the inner Galactic disk with Gaia

Abstract: The Bulge Asymmetries and Dynamical Evolution (BAaDE) survey will provide positions and line-of-sight velocities of ~20, 000 evolved, maser bearing stars in the Galactic plane. Although this Galactic region is affected by optical extinction, BAaDE targets may have Gaia cross-matches, eventually providing additional stellar information. In an initial attempt to cross-match BAaDE targets with Gaia, we have found more than 5,000 candidates. Of these, we may expect half to show SiO emission, which will allow us to obtain velocity information. The cross-match is being refined to avoid false positives using different criteria based on distance analysis, flux variability, and color assessment in the mid- and near-IR. Once the cross-matches can be confirmed, we will have a unique sample to characterize the stellar population of evolved stars in the Galactic bulge, which can be considered fossils of the Milky Way formation.

Maser, infrared and optical emission for late-type stars in the Galactic plane

Abstract: Radio astrometric campaigns using VLBI have provided distances and proper motions for masers associated with young massive stars (BeSSeL survey). The ongoing BAaDE project plans to obtain astrometric information of SiO maser stars located in the inner Galaxy. These stars are associated with evolved, mass-losing stars. By overlapping optical (Gaia), infrared (2MASS, MSX and WISE) and radio (BAaDE) sources, we expect to obtain important clues on the intrinsic properties and population distribution of late-type stars. Moreover, a comparison of the Galactic parameters obtained with Gaia and VLBI can be done using radio observations on different targets: young massive stars (BeSSeL) and evolved stars (BAaDE).

Finding evolved stars in the inner Galactic disk with Gaia

Abstract: The Bulge Asymmetries and Dynamical Evolution (BAaDE) survey will provide positions and line-of-sight velocities of ~20,000 evolved, maser bearing stars in the Galactic plane. Although this Galactic region is affected by optical extinction, BAaDE targets may have Gaia cross-matches, eventually providing additional stellar information. In an initial attempt to cross-match BAaDE targets with Gaia, we have found more than 5,000 candidates. Of these, we may expect half to show SiO emission, which will allow us to obtain velocity information. The cross-match is being refined to avoid false positives using different criteria based on distance analysis, flux variability, and color assessment in the mid- and near-IR. Once the cross-matches can be confirmed, we will have a unique sample to characterize the stellar population of evolved stars in the Galactic bulge, which can be considered fossils of the Milky Way formation.

Mapping young stellar populations towards Orion with Gaia DR1

Abstract: Abstract OB associations are prime sites for the study of star formation processes and of the interaction between young massive stars with the interstellar medium. Furthermore, the kinematics and structure of the nearest OB associations provide detailed insight into the properties and origin of the Gould Belt. In this context, the Orion complex has been extensively studied. However, the spatial distribution of the stellar population is still uncertain: in particular, the distances and ages of the various sub-groups composing the Orion OB association, and their connection to the surrounding interstellar medium, are not well determined. We used the first Gaia data release to characterize the stellar population in Orion, with the goal to obtain new distance and age estimates of the numerous stellar groups composing the Orion OB association. We found evidence of the existence of a young and rich population spread over the entire region, loosely clustered around some known groups. This newly discovered population of young stars provides a fresh view of the star formation history of the Orion region.

Hypervelocity star candidates in Gaia DR1/TGAS

Abstract: Abstract Hypervelocity stars (HVSs) are characterized by a total velocity in excess of the Galactic escape speed, and with trajectories consistent with coming from the Galactic Centre. We apply a novel data mining routine, an artificial neural network, to discover HVSs in the TGAS subset of the first data release of the Gaia satellite, using only the astrometry of the stars. We find 80 stars with a predicted probability >90% of being HVSs, and we retrieved radial velocities for 47 of those. We discover 14 objects with a total velocity in the Galactic rest frame >400 km s−1, and 5 of these have a probability >50% of being unbound from the Milky Way. Tracing back orbits in different Galactic potentials, we discover 1 HVS candidate, 5 bound HVS candidates, and 5 runaway star candidates with remarkably high velocities, between 400 and 780 km s−1. We wait for future Gaia releases to confirm the goodness of our sample and to increase the number of HVS candidates.

Astrometric Galactic maser measurements cross-matched with Gaia

Abstract: Using the VLBA, the BeSSeL survey has provided distances and proper motions of young massive stars, allowing an accurate measure of the Galactic spiral structure. By the same technique, we are planning to map the inner Galaxy using positions and velocities of evolved stars (provided by the BAaDE survey). These radio astrometric measurements (BeSSeL and BAaDE) will be complementary to Gaia results and the overlap will provide important clues on the intrinsic properties and population distribution of the stars in the bulge.

Maser, infrared and optical emission for late-type stars in the Galactic plane

Abstract: Radio astrometric campaigns using VLBI have provided distances and proper motions for masers associated with young massive stars (BeSSeL survey). The ongoing BAaDE project plans to obtain astrometric information of SiO maser stars located in the inner Galaxy. These stars are associated with evolved, mass-losing stars. By overlapping optical (Gaia), infrared (2MASS, MSX and WISE) and radio (BAaDE) sources, we expect to obtain important clues on the intrinsic properties and population distribution of late-type stars. Moreover, a comparison of the Galactic parameters obtained with Gaia and VLBI can be done using radio observations on different targets: young massive stars (BeSSeL) and evolved stars (BAaDE).