Abstract

The ultra-low dispersion spectroscopy to be applied in the ESA Gaia space observatory and the ground-based objective-prism plate surveys represent a similar type of astrophysical data. Although the dispersion in plate surveys is usually larger than in the Gaia blue and red photometers (BP/RP), the spectral resolutions differ by a factor of 2–3 only, since the resolution in ground-based spectra is seeing-limited. We argue that some of the algorithms developed for digitized objective-prism plates can also be applied for the Gaia spectra. At the same time, the plate results confirm the feasibility of observing strong emission lines with Gaia RP/BP.

Highlights

  • The ESA Gaia is a primary astrometry ESA mission to be launched in 2013

  • The motivation for studies comparing these two databases is as follows: (1) A comparison of the simulated Gaia BP/RP images with those obtained from digitized Schmidt spectral plates for 8 selected test fields, and (2) A feasibility study for application for the algorithms developed for the plates for Gaia

  • We have digitised the full collection of Henize plates and have found and analysed the Northern Mt Wilson-Michigan H-alpha sky survey plates deposited at Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, CA, USA

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Summary

Introduction

The satellite payload consists of a single integrated instrument, the design of which is characterised by a dual telescope concept with a common structure and a common focal plane. The satellite payload consists of a single integrated instrument, the design of which is characterised by a dual telescope concept with a common structure and a common focal plane1 Both telescopes are based on a three-mirror anastigmat design. The expected limiting magnitude is 20 in photometric mode[2] In this contribution, we discuss the data expected to be provided by the BP/RP photometers, and show that they will represent ultra-low dispersion spectra which can be used in various astrophysical projects. 1http://sci.esa.int/gaia/, 2011 2http://sci.esa.int/gaia/, 2011 3http://sci.esa.int/gaia/, 2011 data with analogous data provided by plate surveys

Gaia photometers and simulations
Ultra low dispersion spectral plate databases
Astrophysics with Gaia
Recent Results
Conclusion

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