The Extended Gaia Mission

Development of algorithms and software for the Gaia data analysis and preparation for the astrophysical applications of Gaia results.

As part of the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC), Lund Observatory provides algorithms, software and scientific support for the Gaia Astrometric Global Iterative Solution (AGIS).

AGIS estimates stellar astrometric parameters (position, proper motion, parallax), the accurate satellite attitude, the geometric instrument calibration, and certain global (e.g. general-relativistic) parameters.

This work is part of the Swedish contribution to the Gaia DPAC as described in the Multilateral Agreement (MLA) signed between ESA and lead funding agencies, including SNSA.

Much of this work was in place before the launch of Gaia in 2013 but the algorithms and software continue to be refined to support the extended Gaia mission and to ensure the final data products achieve the high quality expected by the science community.

We ask for continued support at the level of 1 FTE, a 50% salary contribution for Hobbs and 50% funding for a new person to replace McMillan who will leave Lund this year.

We seek travel funding for Lindegren who retired in May of 2017 but remains an active member of DPAC and the Gaia science team.

The group is specializing in algorithm development for the Gaia mission to achieve the very challenging end-of-extended mission accuracy requirements for Gaia and in scientific applications of the Gaia data, particularly in the area of Galactic dynamics.

New developments are aimed at using the expertise from the Gaia mission to develop concepts and proposals for a new mission, GaiaNIR, operating in the Near Infrared.