Simulations of Star Counts and Galaxies Towards Vista Variables in the via Láctea Survey Region

Abstract

In the present work, we present results of simulations for star and galaxy counts using a Galaxy and Large-Scale Structure Model (respectively) towards the VVV survey region. In total there are around 3 billion and 2 million simulated stars and galaxies, respectively, up to the survey limiting magnitude. The simulations were performed using the most recent and realistic extinction models. In the case of the galaxy simulations, these come from the semi-analytic galaxy formation model of [Bower et al., MNRAS 370, 645 (2006)] applied to the Millennium simulation [Springel et al., Nature 435, 629 (2005)]. Our results consist of color-color and color-magnitude diagrams in the space of colors (JHKYZ) for stars and galaxies. They also include the expected observed distribution of background galaxies, as well as the expected number of stars that will be observed by VVV in any range of magnitude, color, spectral type and distance for each galactic component (disk, bulge and halo), which is also useful for several VVV projects.