Gaia DR2 Catalogue Research Articles

PROBABILITIES OF PHYSICAL LINK BETWEEN THE COMPONENTS OF THE SELECTED MULTIPLE SYSTEMS FROM WDS CATALOG

Astrometric CCD observations of visual components of double and multiple stars were performed using the RI MAO Axial Meridian Circle (AMC) with new Apogee Alta AI-F8300 CCD camera mounted at the telescope in 2018. Observations were carried out automatically in drift- scan mode using a standard R filter. Objects for observational program were selected from the Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS). During the 23 nights, 983 observations of 579 double and multiple systems from the WDS catalog were obtained. Astrometric reductions of the observations showed high accuracy, with an average error of one position about 0.1 in right ascension and declination for stars up to 16 mag , which were observed more than 3 times. The purpose of our study was to measure the parameters of the mutual configuration of pairs from the original images and to draw some conclusions about the physical connection of the components in the selected systems. The measurement array that will be sent to the WDS database includes values of positional angle, angular separation, stellar magnitude difference, and epoch of the observation. A detailed analysis of the pairs of stars in the selected 5 systems to clarify their composition and the nature of the link between them was made. Positional data from the Hipparcos, Tycho2, UCAC4, Gaia DR2, and Pan-STARRS (PS1) catalogs were used as sources of additional information about the investigated stars. The search for possible invisible stars in the selected systems was performed using the statistical Wielen method, based on the analysis of the differences of instantaneous and long-term averaged proper motions of the stars. The proper motions of the space Gaia DR2 catalog were considered to be instantaneous, the long-term averaged proper motions were used from Tycho-2 and UCAC4 catalogs. Obtained values of the statistical parameter in some cases indicate a high probability of existence of invisible close components in the studied systems. Detailed comments of the results for each of the selected systems are provided.

IC 4665 DANCe

Context. The study of star formation is extremely challenging, due to the lack of complete and clean samples of young nearby clusters and star-forming regions. The recent Gaia DR2 catalogue complemented with the deep ground-based COSMIC DANCe catalogue offers a new database of unprecedented accuracy to revisit the membership of clusters and star-forming regions. The 30 Myr open cluster IC 4665 is one of the few well-known clusters of this age and it is an excellent target where evolutionary models can be tested and planetary formation studied. Aims. We provide a comprehensive membership analysis of IC 4665 and study the following properties: empirical isochrones, distance, magnitude distribution, present-day system mass function, and spatial distribution. Methods. We used the Gaia DR2 catalogue together with the DANCe catalogue to look for members via a probabilistic model of the distribution of the observable quantities in both the cluster and background populations. Results. We obtained a final list of 819 candidate members that cover a 12.4 magnitude range (7 < J < 19.4). We find that 50% are new candidates, and we estimate a conservative contamination rate of 20%. This unique sample of members allows us to obtain a present-day system mass function in the range of 0.02–6 M⊙, which reveals a number of details not seen in previous studies. In addition, we find that a spherically symmetric spatial distribution is favoured by our final list of members for this young open cluster. Conclusions. Our membership analysis represents a significant increase in the quantity and quality (low contamination) with respect to previous studies. It offers an excellent opportunity to revisit other fundamental parameters such as age.

New astrometric positions of the Jovian irregular satellites Elara and Pasiphae in 2016–2018

A total of 372 astrometric positions of Jovian irregular satellites Elara and Pasiphae were obtained during three successive oppositions in 2016, 2017, and 2018, by 1 m telescope at Yunnan Observatory. Based on Gaia DR2 catalogue, 196 new positions of Elara and 176 new positions of Pasiphae were collected. We compared our observations to the theoretical positions retrieved from IMCCE ephemeris online service with satellite ephemeris of Emelyanov model and planetary ephemeris DE431. For Elara, in each direction, the mean (OC) is better than −0.004 arcsec and the dispersion is no more than 0.063 arcsec. For Pasiphae, in each direction, the mean (OC) is better than −0.045 arcsec and the dispersion is no more than 0.082 arcsec. Our new observations have a smaller dispersion than previous observations. Moreover, we also compared two recent orbit models of each satellite as well as three different planetary ephemerides of Jupiter. These comparisons show that the differences among all the three planetary ephemerides are small.

Hα emission-line stars in molecular clouds

A deep objective-prism survey for Hα emission stars towards the Canis Major star-forming clouds was performed. A total of 398 Hα emitters were detected, 353 of which are new detections. There is a strong concentration of these Hα emitters towards the molecular clouds surrounding the CMa OB1 association, and it is likely that these stars are young stellar objects recently born in the clouds. An additional population of Hα emitters is scattered all across the region, and probably includes unrelated foreground dMe stars and background Be stars. About 90% of the Hα emitters are detected by WISE, of which 75% was detected with usable photometry. When plotted in a WISE colour–colour diagram it appears that the majority are Class II YSOs. Coordinates and finding charts are provided for all the new stars, and coordinates for all the detections. We searched the Gaia-DR2 catalogue and from 334 Hα emission stars with useful parallaxes, we selected a subset of 98 stars that have parallax errors of less than 20% and nominal distances in the interval 1050 to 1350 pc that surrounds a strong peak at 1185 pc in the distance distribution. Similarly, Gaia distances were obtained for 51 OB-stars located towards Canis Major and selected with the same parallax errors as the Hα stars. We find a median distance for the OB stars of 1182 pc, in excellent correspondence with the distance from the Hα stars. Two known runaway stars are confirmed as members of the association. Finally, two new Herbig-Haro objects are identified.

Astrometric and photometric study of NGC 6067, NGC 2506, and IC 4651 open clusters based on wide-field ground and Gaia DR2 data

ABSTRACT We present an analysis of three southern open star clusters NGC 6067, NGC 2506, and IC 4651 using wide-field photometric and Gaia DR2 astrometric data. They are poorly studied clusters. We took advantage of the synergy between Gaia DR2 high precision astrometric measurements and ground-based wide-field photometry to isolate cluster members and further study these clusters. We identify the cluster members using proper motions, parallax and colour–magnitude diagrams. Mean proper motion of the clusters in μαcosδ and μδ is estimated as −1.90 ± 0.01 and −2.57 ± 0.01 mas yr−1 for NGC 6067, −2.57 ± 0.01, and 3.92 ± 0.01 mas yr−1 for NGC 2506 and −2.41 ± 0.01 and −5.05 ± 0.02 mas yr−1 for IC 4651. Distances are estimated as 3.01 ± 0.87, 3.88 ± 0.42, and 1.00 ± 0.08 kpc for the clusters NGC 6067, NGC 2506, and IC 4651, respectively, using parallaxes taken from Gaia DR2 catalogue. Galactic orbits are determined for these clusters using Galactic potential models. We find that these clusters have circular orbits. Cluster radii are determined as 10 arcmin for NGC 6067, 12 arcmin for NGC 2506, and 11 arcmin for IC 4651. Ages of the clusters estimated by isochrones fitting are 66 ± 8 Myr, 2.09 ± 0.14 Gyr, and 1.59 ± 0.14 Gyr for NGC 6067, NGC 2506, and IC 4651, respectively. Mass function slope for the entire region of cluster NGC 2506 is found to be comparable with the Salpeter value in the mass range of 0.77–1.54 M⊙. The mass function analysis shows that the slope becomes flat when one goes from halo to core region in all the three clusters. A comparison of dynamical age with cluster’s age indicates that NGC 2506 and IC 4651 are dynamically relaxed clusters.

A Kinematically Cold Structure of Candidate Young OB Stars toward the Anticenter.

We combine Galaxy Evolution Explorer and Gaia DR2 catalogs to track star formation in the outskirts of our Galaxy. Using photometry, proper motions, and parallaxes we identify a structure of ~300 OB-type candidates located between 12 and 15 kpc from the Galactic center that are kinematically cold. The structure is located between l = 120° and 200°, above the plane up to ~700 pc and below the plane to ~1 kpc. The bulk motion is disklike; however, we measure a mean upward vertical motion of 5.7 ± 0.4 km s-1, and a mean outward radial motion of between 8 and 16 km s-1. The velocity dispersion along the least dispersed of its proper-motion axes (perpendicular to the Galactic disk) is 6.0 ± 0.3 km s-1, confirming the young age of this structure. While spatially encompassing the outer spiral arm of the Galaxy, this structure is not a spiral arm. Its explanation as the Milky Way warp is equally unsatisfactory. The structure's vertical extent, mean kinematics, and asymmetry with respect to the plane indicate that its origin is more akin to a wobble generated by a massive satellite perturbing the Galaxy's disk. The mean stellar ages in this outer structure indicate the event took place some 200 Myr ago.

Kinematics of Hot Subdwarfs from the Gaia DR2 Catalogue

We have studied the kinematic properties of the candidates for hot subdwarfs (HSDs) selected by Geier et al. from the Gaia DR2 catalogue. We have used a total of 12 515 stars with relative trigonometric parallax errors less than 30\%. The HSDs are shown to have different kinematics, depending on their positions on the celestial sphere. For example, the sample of low-latitude $(|b|<20^\circ)$ HSDs rotates around the Galactic center with a linear velocity $V_0=221\pm5$ km s$^{-1}$. This suggests that they belong to the Galactic thin disk. At the same time, they lag behind the local standard of rest by $\Delta V_\odot\sim16$ km s$^{-1}$ due to the asymmetric drift. The high-latitude ($|b|\geq20^\circ$) HSDs rotate with a considerably lower velocity, $V_0=168\pm6$ km s$^{-1}$. Their lagging behind the local standard of rest is already $\Delta V_\odot\sim40$ km s$^{-1}$. Based on the entire sample of 12 515 HSDs, we have found a positive rotation around the $x$ axis significantly differing from zero with an angular velocity $\omega_1=1.36\pm0.24$ km s$^{-1}$ kpc$^{-1}$. We have studied the samples of HSDs that are complete within $r<1.5$ kpc. Based on them, we have traced the evolution of the parameters of the residual velocity ellipsoid as a function of both latitude $|b|$ and coordinate $|z|.$ The following vertical disk scale heights have been found: $h=180\pm6$ and $290\pm10$ pc from the low- and high-latitude HSDs, respectively. A new estimate of the local stellar density $\Sigma_{out}=53\pm4~M_{\odot}$/kpc$^2$ kpc$^{-2}$ has been obtained for $z_{out}=0.56$ kpc from the high-latitude HSDs.

On the Properties of the Galactic Dust Layer within 700 pc of the Sun

We compare the spatial stellar color variations with our 3D model of the spatial dust distribution to refine the properties of the dust layer in Galactic solar neighborhoods. We use a complete sample of 93992 clump giants with an admixture of branch giants from the Gaia DR2 catalogue in a spatial cylinder with a radius of 700 pc around the Sun extending to |Z|=1800 pc. Accurate data of these stars in the Gaia DR2 GRP and WISE W3 bands have allowed the spatial GRP-W3 color variations to be used to calculate the model parameters and two characteristics of the sample, the mode of the dereddened color (GRP-W3)0 of the giant clump and the linear change of this mode with coordinate |Z|. As a result, an improved version of the three-dimensional model first proposed by Gontcharov (2009b) has been obtained. As in the previous version, the model suggests two dust layers, along the Galactic equator and in the Gould Belt, that intersect near the Sun at an angle of 18\pm2 degs. In contrast to the previous version of the model with a midplane of the Gould Belt dust layer in the form of a circle with the center at the Sun, in the new version this midplane is an ellipse decentered relative to the Sun. A scale height of 170\pm40 pc has been found for both dust layers. The modes of the absolute magnitude MW3=-1.70\pm0.02 and the dereddened color (GRP-W3)0=(1.43\pm0.01)-(0.020\pm0.007)|Z|, where Z is expressed in kpc, have been calculated for the giant clump near the Sun. The dispersions of the quantities under consideration have allowed the natural small-scale density fluctuations of the dust medium relative to the mean reddening calculated from the model to be characterized. These fluctuations make a major contribution to the uncertainty in the reddening.

The tilt of the velocity ellipsoid in the Milky Way with Gaia DR2

The velocity distribution of stars is a sensitive probe of the gravitational potential of the Galaxy, and hence of its dark matter distribution. In particular, the shape of the dark halo (e.g. spherical, oblate, or prolate) determines velocity correlations, and different halo geometries are expected to result in measurable differences. Here we explore and interpret the correlations in the (vR, vz)-velocity distribution as a function of position in the Milky Way. We selected a high-quality sample of stars from the Gaia DR2 catalogue and characterised the orientation of the velocity distribution or tilt angle over a radial distance range of [4 − 13] kpc and up to 3.5 kpc away from the Galactic plane while taking into account the effects of the measurement errors. We find that the tilt angles change from spherical alignment in the inner Galaxy (R ∼ 4 kpc) towards more cylindrical alignments in the outer Galaxy (R ∼ 11 kpc) when using distances that take a global zero-point offset in the parallax of −29 μas. However, if the amplitude of this offset is underestimated, then the inferred tilt angles in the outer Galaxy only appear shallower and are intrinsically more consistent with spherical alignment for an offset as large as −54 μas. We further find that the tilt angles do not seem to strongly vary with Galactic azimuth and that different stellar populations depict similar tilt angles. Therefore we introduce a simple analytic function that describes the trends found over the full radial range. Since the systematic parallax errors in Gaia DR2 depend on celestial position, magnitude, and colour in complex ways, it is not possible to fully correct for them. Therefore it will be particularly important for dynamical modelling of the Milky Way to thoroughly characterise the systematics in astrometry in future Gaia data releases.

Observations of the Galilean Moons of Jupiter at Pulkovo in 2018

We present the results of observations of the Galilean moons of Jupiter carried out at the Normal Astrograph of the Pulkovo Observatory in 2018. We obtained 452 positions of the Galilean moons of Jupiter in the Gaia DR1 catalog system (ICRF, J2000.0) and 671 differential coordinates of the satellites relative to each other. The obtained mean errors in the satellites’ normal positions on the right ascension and declination, which demonstrate the intrinsic convergence of the observational results, are eα = 0.003′′ and eδ = 0.003′′, respectively, for the entire observational period. The errors of one difference are σα = 0.070′′, and σδ = 0.067′′, respectively. The equatorial coordinates of the moons were compared to eight motion theories of planets and satellites. On average, the (O–C) residuals in the both coordinates relative to the motion theories are 0.014′′. The best agreement with observations is achieved by combination of all four motion theories of satellites with the planetary theory EPM2017, which yields average (O–C) residuals of approximately 0.01′′ for each of them. The new results were compared to those of the 2016−2017 observational season. As in the past, peculiarities in the behavior of the (O–C) residuals for Io and Ganymede have been noticed.

Tracing Stellar Close Encounters with Our Sun from GAIA DR2, LAMOST DR4, and RAVE DR5 Catalogues

Our Sun is surrounded by the Oort Cloud (in radius 0.5 pc) which can be perturbed by various external factors. One of those is the stellar close encounter with our Sun. This kind of perturbation can induce the cometary showers in our Solar System. In this work, we attempt to make numerical simulations to trace the orbit of stars which close encounter with our Sun in the cases of Milky Way’s axisymmetric only and with non-axisymmetric potentials. We have 306 selected solar neighborhood stars from GAIA DR2, LAMOST DR4, and RAVE DR5 which have highly precise kinematics.In this work, we find a few stars that have counter parameter (dm) less than or equal to 2 pc in both of past and future close encounters with the Sun. We also find a few stars (ID 283, 290, 297, 298) even with dm ≤ 0.5 pc within their errors, for past close encounters at time tm ≥ 0.5 Myr ago. These stars should have perturbed the Oort Cloud’s stability long time ago. Furthermore, we find a few stars (ID 293, 299, 300) with dm ≤ 1 pc within their errors, at tm > 0.6 Myr for future close encounters. Besides that,cadding non-axisymmetric component of Milky Way does not change the results. This suggests that the non-axisymmetric component of Milky Way potential has small effect in perturbing the orbital motion of stars for short timescale. That’s why the values of dm are relatively similar within their errors, for both cases of the Milky Way potential.

Search for the evolutionary relationship between Galactic globular and open clusters using data from the Gaia DR2 catalogue

Abstract Passing through the Galactic disc, a massive object such as a globular cluster, can trigger star formation process leading to the birth of open clusters. Here, we analyse such possible evolutionary relationship between globular and open clusters. To search for the closest rapprochement between objects we computed backwards the orbits of 150 Galactic globular and 232 open clusters (younger than 100 Myr) with proper motions, derived from the Gaia DR2 catalogue. The orbits were computed using the recently modified three-component (disc, bulge, and halo) axisymmetric Navarro–Frenk–White potential, which was complemented by non-axisymmetric bar and spiral density wave potentials. We obtained a new estimate for the frequency of impacts of globular clusters about the Galactic disc, which is equal to four events for 1 Myr. In the framework of the considered scenario, we highlight the following nine pairs of globular and open clusters, with rapprochement within 1 kpc at the time of the intersection the Galactic disc by a globular cluster for the latest 100 Myr: NGC 104 – Turner 3, NGC 104 – NGC 6396, NGC 104 – Ruprecht 127, NGC 5139 – Trumpler 17, NGC 5139 – NGC 6520, NGC 6341 – NGC 6613, NGC 6838 – NGC 6520, NGC 7078 – NGC 7063, NGC 6760 – Ruprecht 127.

A Massive Magnetic Helium Atmosphere White Dwarf Binary in a Young Star Cluster

We have searched the Gaia DR2 catalogue for previously unknown hot white dwarfs in the direction of young open star clusters. The aim of this experiment was to try and extend the initial-final mass relation (IFMR) to somewhat higher masses, potentially providing a tension with the Chandrasekhar limit currently thought to be around 1.38 M$_{\odot}$. We discovered a particularly interesting white dwarf in the direction of the young $\sim$150 Myr old cluster Messier 47 (NGC 2422). All Gaia indicators (proper motion, parallax, location in the Gaia colour-magnitude diagram) suggest that it is a cluster member. Its spectrum, obtained from Gemini South, yields a number of anomalies: it is a DB (helium-rich atmosphere) white dwarf, it has a large magnetic field (2.5 MG), is of high mass ($\sim$1.06 M$_\odot$) and its colours are very peculiar --- particularly the redder ones ($r$, $i$, $z$ and $y$), which suggest that it has a late-type companion. This is the only magnetized, detached binary white dwarf with a non-degenerate companion of any spectral type known in or out of a star cluster. If the white dwarf is a cluster member, as all indicators suggest, its progenitor had a mass just over 6 M$_\odot$. It may, however, be telling an even more interesting story than the one related to the IFMR, one about the origin of stellar magnetic fields, Type I supernovae and gravitational waves from low mass stellar systems.

In-flight photometry extraction of PLATO targets

Context. The ESA PLATO space mission is devoted to unveiling and characterizing new extrasolar planets and their host stars. This mission will encompass a very large (&gt;2100 deg2) field of view, granting it the potential to survey up to one million stars depending on the final observation strategy. The telemetry budget of the spacecraft cannot handle transmitting individual images for such a huge stellar sample at the right cadence, so the development of an appropriate strategy to perform on-board data reduction is mandatory. Aims. We employ mask-based (aperture) photometry to produce stellar light curves in flight. Our aim is thus to find the mask model that optimizes the scientific performance of the reduced data. Methods. We considered three distinct aperture models: binary mask, weighted Gaussian mask, and weighted gradient mask giving lowest noise-to-signal ratio, computed through a novel direct method. Each model was tested on synthetic images generated for 50 000 potential PLATO targets. We extracted the stellar population from the Gaia DR2 catalogue. An innovative criterion was adopted for choosing between different mask models. We designated as optimal the model providing the best compromise between sensitivity to detect true and false planet transits. We determined the optimal model based on simulated noise-to-signal ratio and frequency of threshold crossing events. Results. Our results show that, although the binary mask statistically presents a few percent higher noise-to-signal ratio compared to weighted masks, both strategies have very similar efficiency in detecting legitimate planet transits. When it comes to avoiding spurious signals from contaminant stars however the binary mask statistically collects considerably less contaminant flux than weighted masks, thereby allowing the former to deliver up to ∼30% less false transit signatures at 7.1σ detection threshold. Conclusions. Our proposed approach for choosing apertures has been proven to be decisive for the determination of a mask model capable to provide near maximum planet yield and substantially reduced occurrence of false positives for the PLATO mission. Overall, this work constitutes an important step in the design of both on-board and on-ground science data processing pipelines.

AXS: A Framework for Fast Astronomical Data Processing Based on Apache Spark

Abstract We introduce AXS (Astronomy eXtensions for Spark), a scalable open-source astronomical data analysis framework built on Apache Spark, a widely used industry-standard engine for big-data processing. Building on capabilities present in Spark, AXS aims to enable querying and analyzing almost arbitrarily large astronomical catalogs using familiar Python/AstroPy concepts, DataFrame APIs, and SQL statements. We achieve this by (i) adding support to Spark for efficient on-line positional cross-matching and (ii) supplying a Python library supporting commonly used operations for astronomical data analysis. To support scalable cross-matching, we develop a variant of the ZONES algorithm capable of operating in distributed, shared-nothing architecture. We couple this to a data partitioning scheme that enables fast catalog cross-matching and handles the data skew often present in deep all-sky data sets. The cross-match and other often-used functionalities are exposed to the end users through an easy-to-use Python API. We demonstrate AXS’s technical and scientific performance on Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Zwicky Transient Facility, Gaia DR2, and AllWise catalogs. Using AXS we were able to perform on-the-fly cross-match of Gaia DR2 (1.8 billion rows) and AllWise (900 million rows) data sets in ∼30 s. We discuss how cloud-ready distributed systems like AXS provide a natural way to enable comprehensive end-user analyses of large data sets such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.

Variable stars in young open cluster NGC 2244

ABSTRACT We present results of a UBVIC variability survey in the young open cluster NGC 2244. In total, we found 245 variable stars. Most of them, 211 stars, are variables with irregular variations. Furthermore, 23 periodic variables were found. We also detected four candidates for δ Scuti stars and seven eclipsing binaries. Based on the mid-infrared Spitzer and WISE photometry and near infrared JHKS 2MASS photometry, we classified 104 young stellar sources among our variables: 1 Class I object, 1 Class I/flat spectrum object, 4 flat spectrum objects, 91 Class II objects, and 7 transition disc objects. This classification, together with r′i′Hα IPHAS photometry and JHK UKIDSS photometry, were used for identification of pre-main sequence stars among irregular and periodic variables. In this way, 97 CTTS candidates (96 irregular and one periodic variable), 68 WTTS candidates (54 irregular and 14 periodic variables), and 6 Herbig Ae/Be stars were found. For 223 variable stars we calculated membership probability based on proper motions from Gaia DR2 catalogue. Majority of them, 143 stars, are cluster members with probability greater than 70 per cent. For only 36 variable stars the membership probability is smaller than 20 per cent.

First stellar occultation by the Galilean moon Europa and upcoming events between 2019 and 2021

Context. Bright stellar positions are now known with an uncertainty below 1 mas thanks to Gaia DR2. Between 2019–2020, the Galactic plane will be the background of Jupiter. The dense stellar background will lead to an increase in the number of occultations, while the Gaia DR2 catalogue will reduce the prediction uncertainties for the shadow path. Aims. We observed a stellar occultation by the Galilean moon Europa (J2) and propose a campaign for observing stellar occultations for all Galilean moons. Methods. During a predicted period of time, we measured the light flux of the occulted star and the object to determine the time when the flux dropped with respect to one or more reference stars, and the time that it rose again for each observational station. The chords obtained from these observations allowed us to determine apparent sizes, oblatness, and positions with kilometre accuracy. Results. We present results obtained from the first stellar occultation by the Galilean moon Europa observed on 2017 March 31. The apparent fitted ellipse presents an equivalent radius of 1561.2 ± 3.6 km and oblatenesses 0.0010 ± 0.0028. A very precise Europa position was determined with an uncertainty of 0.8 mas. We also present prospects for a campaign to observe the future events that will occur between 2019 and 2021 for all Galilean moons. Conclusions. Stellar occultation is a suitable technique for obtaining physical parameters and highly accurate positions of bright satellites close to their primary. A number of successful events can render the 3D shapes of the Galilean moons with high accuracy. We encourage the observational community (amateurs included) to observe the future predicted events.

Local standard of rest based on Gaia DR2 catalog

The local standard of rest (LSR) provides a reference framework for studies of Galactic kinematics. Determination of the LSR corresponds to the measurement of solar peculiar motion, which is under debate due to the fact that different methods and samples have been used. Adopting the astrometric data and line-of-sight velocities of main sequence stars from Gaia DR2, we present a detailed analytical study of stellar kinematics in the solar neighborhood. Based on an improved version of the Strömberg relation, we obtain a robust estimation of the solar peculiar motion, which is given by (U⊙, V⊙, W⊙) = (8.63±0.64, 4.76±0.49, 7.26±0.36) kms−1. The corresponding radial scalelength is yielded as Rd ∼ 2.5 kpc. The radial and vertical components of solar peculiar motion are basically consistent with the classical values, while the tangential component is a few km s−1 smaller than most estimates in literature.

Resolving the distance controversy for Sharpless 269

Context. Sharpless 269 (S 269) is one of a few HII regions in the outer spiral arm of the Milky Way with strong water maser emission. Based on data from the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) array, two parallax measurements have been published, which differ by nearly 2σ. Each distance estimate supports a different structure for the outer arm. Moreover, given its large Galactocentric radii, S 269 has special relevance as its proper motion and parallax have been used to constrain the Galactic rotation curve at large radii.Aims. Using recent Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations, we accurately measure the parallax and proper motion of the water masers in S 269. We interpret the position and motion of S 269 in the context of Galactic structure, and possible optical counterparts.Methods. S 269’s 22 GHz water masers and two close by quasars were observed at 16 epochs between 2015 and 2016 using the VLBA. We calibrated the data by inverse phase referencing using the strongest maser spot. The parallax and proper motion were fitted using the standard protocols of the Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy survey.Results. We measure an annual parallax for S 269 of 0.241 ± 0.012 mas corresponding to a distance from the Sun of 4.15+0.22−0.20kpc by fitting four maser spots. The mean proper motion for S 269 was estimated as 0.16 ± 0.26 mas yr−1and −0.51 ± 0.26 mas yr−1forμαcosδandμδrespectively, which corresponds to the motion expected for a flat Galactic rotation curve at large radius. This distance estimate, Galactic kinematic simulations and observations of other massive young stars in the outer region support the existence of a kink in the outer arm atl ≈ 140°. Additionally, we find more than 2000 optical sources in the Gaia DR2 catalog within 125 pc radius around the 3D position of the water maser emission; from those only three sources are likely members of the same stellar association that contains the young massive star responsible for the maser emission (S 269 IRS 2w).

Comparison of Gaia DR2 Parallaxes of Stars with VLBI Astrometry

Abstract We compare the parallaxes of stars from VLBI astrometry in the literature to those in the Gaia DR2 catalog. Our full sample contains young stellar objects, evolved AGB stars, pulsars, and other radio stars. Excluding AGB stars, which show significant discrepancies between Gaia and VLBI parallaxes, and stars in binary systems, we obtain an average, systematic, parallax offset of −75 ± 29 μas for Gaia DR2, consistent with their estimate of a parallax zero-point between −100 and 0 μas.