Gaia Data Release 3

Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 674, pp. A3

Abstract

Context.Gaia Data Release 3 contains astrometry and photometry results for about 1.8 billion sources based on observations collected by the European Space Agency (ESA) Gaia satellite during the first 34 months of its operational phase (the same period covered by Gaia early Data Release 3; Gaia EDR3). Low-resolution spectra for 220 million sources are one of the important new data products included in this release. Aims. In this paper, we focus on the external calibration of low-resolution spectroscopic content, describing the input data, algorithms, data processing, and the validation of the results. Particular attention is given to the quality of the data and to a number of features that users may need to take into account to make the best use of the catalogue. Methods. We calibrated an instrument model to relate mean Gaia spectra to the corresponding spectral energy distributions (SEDs) using an extended set of calibrators: this includes modelling of the instrument dispersion relation, transmission, and line spread functions. Optimisation of the model is achieved through total least-squares regression, accounting for errors in Gaia and external spectra. Results. The resulting instrument model can be used for forward modelling of Gaia spectra or for inverse modelling of externally calibrated spectra in absolute flux units. Conclusions. The absolute calibration derived in this paper provides an essential ingredient for users of BP / RP spectra. It allows users to connect BP / RP spectra to absolute fluxes and physical wavelengths.

Authors 49

1. P. Montegriffo corresponding

   Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   INAF -Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna , Via Gobetti 93/3 , 40129 Bologna , Italy

   INAF -Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

2. F. De Angeli

   University of Cambridge

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

   Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

3. R. Andrae

   Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

   Affiliation as printed

   Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy , Königstuhl 17 , 69117 Heidelberg , Germany

   Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

4. M. Riello

   University of Cambridge

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

   Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

5. E. Pancino

   Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · Agenzia Spaziale Italiana · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   INAF -Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri , Largo E. Fermi , 5 , 50125 Firenze , Italy

   Space Science Data Center -ASI , Via del Politecnico SNC , 00133 Roma , Italy

   INAF -Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi, 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy

   Space Science Data Center -ASI, Via del Politecnico SNC, 00133 Roma, Italy

6. N. Sanna

   Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   INAF -Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri , Largo E. Fermi , 5 , 50125 Firenze , Italy

   INAF -Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi, 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy

7. M. Bellazzini

   Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   INAF -Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna , Via Gobetti 93/3 , 40129 Bologna , Italy

   INAF -Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

8. Dafydd Wyn Evans

   University of Cambridge

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

   Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

9. J. M. Carrasco

   Institut de Ciències del Cosmos · Universitat de Barcelona

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICC) , Universitat de Barcelona (IEEC-UB) , c/ Martí i Franquès , 1 , 08028 Barcelona , Spain

   Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICC), Universitat de Barcelona (IEEC-UB), c/ Martí i Franquès, 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

10. R. Sordo

    Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova , Vicolo Osservatorio 5 , 35122 Padova , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy

11. G. Busso

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

12. C. Cacciari

    Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna , Via Gobetti 93/3 , 40129 Bologna , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

13. C. Jordi

    Institut de Ciències del Cosmos · Universitat de Barcelona

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICC) , Universitat de Barcelona (IEEC-UB) , c/ Martí i Franquès , 1 , 08028 Barcelona , Spain

    Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICC), Universitat de Barcelona (IEEC-UB), c/ Martí i Franquès, 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

14. Floor van Leeuwen

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

15. Antonella Vallenari

    Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova , Vicolo Osservatorio 5 , 35122 Padova , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy

16. G. Altavilla

    Astronomical Observatory of Rome · Agenzia Spaziale Italiana · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma , Via Frascati 33 , 00078 Monte Porzio Catone , Roma , Italy

    Space Science Data Center -ASI , Via del Politecnico SNC , 00133 Roma , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Roma, Italy

    Space Science Data Center -ASI, Via del Politecnico SNC, 00133 Roma, Italy

17. Martin Adrian Barstow

    University of Leicester

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Physics & Astronomy , University of Leicester , Leicester LE9 1UP , UK

    School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester LE9 1UP, UK

18. A. G. A. Brown Aachen Leiden Observatory

    Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Observatory , Leiden University , Niels Bohrweg 2 , 2333 CA Leiden , The Netherlands

    Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA Leiden, The Netherlands

19. P. W. Burgess

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

20. M. Castellani

    Astronomical Observatory of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma , Via Frascati 33 , 00078 Monte Porzio Catone , Roma , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Roma, Italy

21. S. Cowell

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

22. M. Davidson

    Royal Observatory · University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Astronomy , School of Physics and Astronomy , University of Edinburgh , Royal Observatory , Blackford Hill , Edinburgh EH9 3HJ , UK

    Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK

23. F. De Luise

    Collurania Teramo Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico d'Abruzzo , Via Mentore Maggini , 64100 Teramo , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico d'Abruzzo, Via Mentore Maggini, 64100 Teramo, Italy

24. L. Delchambre

    University of Liège

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique , Université de Liège 19c , Allée du 6 Août , 4000 Liège , Belgium

    Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Université de Liège 19c, Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium

25. C. Diener

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

26. C. Fabricius

    Institut de Ciències del Cosmos · Universitat de Barcelona

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICC) , Universitat de Barcelona (IEEC-UB) , c/ Martí i Franquès , 1 , 08028 Barcelona , Spain

    Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICC), Universitat de Barcelona (IEEC-UB), c/ Martí i Franquès, 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

27. Y. Frémat

    Royal Observatory of Belgium

    Affiliation as printed

    Royal Observatory of Belgium , 3 Avenue Circulaire , 1180 Brussels , Belgium

    Royal Observatory of Belgium, 3 Avenue Circulaire, 1180 Brussels, Belgium

28. M. Fouesneau

    Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

    Affiliation as printed

    Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy , Königstuhl 17 , 69117 Heidelberg , Germany

    Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

29. Gerard F. Gilmore

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

30. G. Giuffrida

    Astronomical Observatory of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma , Via Frascati 33 , 00078 Monte Porzio Catone , Roma , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Roma, Italy

31. N. C. Hambly

    Royal Observatory · University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Astronomy , School of Physics and Astronomy , University of Edinburgh , Royal Observatory , Blackford Hill , Edinburgh EH9 3HJ , UK

    Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK

32. Diana L. Harrison

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Kavli Institute for Cosmology , Institute of Astronomy , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

    Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

33. S. L. Hidalgo

    Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

    Affiliation as printed

    IAC -Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias , Via Láctea s/n , 38200 La Laguna SC , Tenerife , Spain

    IAC -Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Via Láctea s/n, 38200 La Laguna SC, Tenerife, Spain

34. S. T. Hodgkin

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

35. G. Holland

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

36. S. Marinoni

    Astronomical Observatory of Rome · Agenzia Spaziale Italiana · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma , Via Frascati 33 , 00078 Monte Porzio Catone , Roma , Italy

    Space Science Data Center -ASI , Via del Politecnico SNC , 00133 Roma , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Roma, Italy

    Space Science Data Center -ASI, Via del Politecnico SNC, 00133 Roma, Italy

37. P. Osborne

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

38. Claudio Pagani

    University of Leicester

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Physics & Astronomy , University of Leicester , Leicester LE9 1UP , UK

    School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester LE9 1UP, UK

39. L. Palaversa

    University of Cambridge · Ruđer Bošković Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Ruder Bošković Institute , Bijenička Cesta 54 , Zagreb , Croatia

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

    Ruder Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, Zagreb, Croatia

40. A. M. Piersimoni

    Collurania Teramo Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico d'Abruzzo , Via Mentore Maggini , 64100 Teramo , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico d'Abruzzo, Via Mentore Maggini, 64100 Teramo, Italy

41. L. Pulone

    Astronomical Observatory of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma , Via Frascati 33 , 00078 Monte Porzio Catone , Roma , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Roma, Italy

42. S. Ragaini

    Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna , Via Gobetti 93/3 , 40129 Bologna , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

43. Monica Rainer

    Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF -Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri , Largo E. Fermi , 5 , 50125 Firenze , Italy

    INAF -Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi, 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy

44. P. J. Richards

    Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

    Affiliation as printed

    STFC , Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Harwell , Didcot OX11 0QX , UK

    STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK

45. N. Rowell

    Royal Observatory · University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Astronomy , School of Physics and Astronomy , University of Edinburgh , Royal Observatory , Blackford Hill , Edinburgh EH9 3HJ , UK

    Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK

46. D. Ruz-Mieres

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

47. Luis Manuel Sarro

    Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Artificial Intelligence , Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia , c/ Juan del Rosal 16 , 28040 Madrid , Spain

    Department of Artificial Intelligence, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, c/ Juan del Rosal 16, 28040 Madrid, Spain

48. Nicholas A. Walton

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

49. A. Yoldas

    University of Cambridge

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Astronomy , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge CB3 0HA , UK

    Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK