Gaia DR2 was released in April 2018 and contains a photometric catalogue of more than 1 billion sources. This release contains colour information in the form of integrated BP and RP photometry in addition to the latest G-band photometry. The level of uncertainty can be as good as 2 mmag with some residual systematics at the 10 mmag level. The addition of colour information greatly enhances the value of the photometric data for the scientific community. A high level overview of the photometric processing, with a focus on the improvements with respect to Gaia DR1, was given. The definition of the Gaia photometric system, a crucial part of the calibration of the photometry, was also explained. Finally, some of the photometric improvements expected for the next data release were described.

The decomposition of the 21 cm rotation curve of galaxies into contribution from the disk and dark halo depends on the adopted mass to light ratio (M/L) of the disk. Given the vertical velocity dispersion (σz) of stars in the disk and its scale height (hz), the disk surface density and hence the M/L can be estimated. Earlier works have used this technique to conclude that galaxy disks are submaximal. Here we address an important conceptual problem: star-forming spirals have an old (kinematically hot) disk population and a young cold disk population. Both of these populations contribute to the integrated light spectra from which σz is measured. The measured scale height hz is for the old disk population. In the Jeans equation, σz and hz must pertain to the same population. We have developed techniques to extract the velocity dispersion of the old disk from integrated light spectra and from samples of planetary nebulae. We present the analysis of the disk kinematics of the galaxy NGC 628 using IFU data in the inner regions and planetary nebulae as tracers in the outer regions of the disk. We demonstrate that using the scale height of the old thin disk with the vertical velocity dispersion of the same population, traced by PNe, results in a maximal disk for NGC 628. Our analysis concludes that previous studies underestimate the disk surface mass density by ~ 2, sufficient to make a maximal disk for NGC 628 appear like a submaximal disk.

Gaia, the space astrometry satellite of the European Space Agency, was successfully launched on 2013 December 19th. A vast amount of data has already been received by the on-ground data processing systems running at the European Space Astronomy Centre near Madrid. In this paper we describe the mentioned systems, focusing on the Initial Data Treatment system which is coordinated by the Gaia group at the University of Barcelona. We present some of the results obtained during the first months of nominal operations.

Before Gaia data are published, they will undergo scrutiny in several different validation processes. Each leg of the data reduction will have its own specialised validation with focus on the difficult points for that task. In addition, when the combined catalogue is ready for release, it will undergo an independent, more global, validation. All kinds of properties of the catalogue are checked, and it is of particular interest to test if the error estimates are realistic, and if the parameters are unbiased. We also look briefly at the experiences from other projects like 2MASS and Hipparcos, and address recent worries that Hipparcos was wrong and that Gaia may therefore also be wrong.

Our team at the University of Barcelona has contributed since the early phases of the mission to the definition, evaluation and calibration modelling of the Gaia photometry. To maximise the Gaia scientific exploitation, we have frequently shared many different tools and data with the astronomical community. Among this information we have defined several relationships among colours involving Gaia magnitudes and colours from other commonly used photometric systems (Johnson-Cousins, SDSS, Hipparcos, Tycho and 2MASS) for several types of stars (including white dwarfs). These relationships can be used for planning scientific exploitation of Gaia data, performing simulations of the Gaia-like sky, planning ground-based complementary observations and for building catalogues with auxiliary validation data. During the commissioning phase our team (as part of the Payload Experts group) has been intensively checking the first photometric data to analyse the health and properties of the real instrument. These preliminary analyses allowed us to monitor the throughput variations with time, assess the spectral resolution and re-evaluate the performances of the end-of-mission photometry. The Payload Experts group activities continue beyond the commissioning phase aiming to optimize the operations onboard for maximizing the scientific return. Some example of first spectra and photometry are shown.

Before Hipparcos, the determination of absolute luminosity was usually done through calibrations based on a few stellar parallaxes measured at the highest precision. The Hipparcos mission meant a giant step on the knowledge of luminosities and fine structure of the HR diagram. The Gaia mission will go an enormous step further. Besides luminosities, Gaia will allow us to derive other stellar parameters like temperature and extinction, gravity, chemical composition, age and mass by the combination of astrometric and spectrometric data. Through simulations during the mission preparation, it has been shown that the astrometric parallax information is essential to deal with the degeneracy between gravity and chemical composition ([Fe/H] and [α/Fe]), that cannot be treated using only spectrophotometry. We show the expected HR diagram for the Gaia domain and the accuracies of stellar parameters.

On a daily basis the Gaia telemetry data (some 30 GB) must be stored and treated in order to reconstruct the actual observations. This initial data treatment processes all newly arrived telemetry and various pieces of auxiliary data. The first part of the process is merely a reformatting to create raw objects for permanent storage in the raw data base (some 40 TB at the end of the mission). The next part is to analyze the data to derive initial values for the observables, e.g. transit times and fluxes, producing intermediate objects. Finally, the intermediate objects are matched with sources in the data base, linking all the observations of a given source.

To check the initial data treatment algorithm we use simulations of the telemetry stream provided by GASS, the Gaia System Simulator. GASS simulates astrometric, photometric and radial velocity data, using models of the satellite and on-board instruments, as well as the models of different of objects observed by Gaia (stars, galaxies, solar system objects, . . .). On the other hand, the initial data treatment allows us to validate the data generated by GASS, which are used too to check other algorithms like the First Look or the Astrometric Global Iterative Solution (AGIS).

The final Tycho Catalogue (ESA 1997b) has been derived from 37 months of observations with the star mapper of the astrometric satellite Hipparcos. The Hipparcos Catalogue (ESA 1997a) with about 120,000 stars is the result of the main Hipparcos mission and has, e.g., been described by Kovalevsky et al. (1995). Both catalogues will be published in 1997.

The primary purpose of the FK5 is to provide an absolute optical reference frame against which to measure the positions and motions of other objects. One of the main tasks of meridian circles is to check and improve that reference frame by repeated observation of the fundamental stars. The meridian circle at Bordeaux, France and the Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle (CAMC) at La Palma are carrying out programmes of observation of FK5 stars partly with this aim in view.

The positions from which the systematic differences are derived are the means of at least 10, but normally about 30 (Bordeaux) and 50 (CAMC), independent observations of each FK5 star made in the period 1984–87. The systematic differences are displayed in pairs of 3-dimensional plots, Bordeau–FK5 and CAMC–FK5. The similarities of the corresponding pairs of plots is striking, particularly in declination. This implies that systematic errors exist in the FK5 which reach about in places at the epoch 1986.0.

The contribution of the Carlsberg Meridian Catalogue La Palma Number 4 to the determination of the optical reference frame is discussed. This catalogue of almost 51000 stars provides one of the most accurate optical reference frames at the present epoch, having a density of 1 star per square degree, and an average accuracy of 0.″12 in position and 0.″003 per year in proper motion for stars with V<9. The catalogue also contains positions of reference stars with V>11 in the fields of benchmark extragalactic radio sources which can be used in linking the optical reference frame defined by the FK5 to the extragalactic frame.

A new micrometer has been in operation on the Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle since May 1988. The zenith mean error for one observation has improved from O.″19 to 0.″14 and the limiting magnitude from 13m.2 to 14m.8. The first meridian observations of Pluto and observations of nine extragalactic objects are briefly discussed.

High precision work in photographic astrometry requires accurate monitoring of the telescope+filter+emulsion system being used.

The azimuth of a meridian circle may be determined using stars within 1°–2° of the pole combining observations in upper and lower culmination of stars which have well known right ascensions. The right ascensions are determined photographically using only declinations in the reduction, thus making the azimuth determination independent of the right ascension system. The declinations of the pole near stars are determined with the meridian circle.