Gaia Data Release scenario

On this webpage, the target release scenario is presented, based on the current status of processing.

Photometric and new asteroid science alerts are already being issued.

In general, individual epoch observations and transits will be released only with the final catalogue. However, when variable star solutions, etc. are released, relevant subsets of epoch data may also be released. Additionally, where the release of epoch data is of immediate scientific interest, such release will be made on an individual source-by-source basis through the science alerts.

After production of the catalogue for release, a validation exercise will be executed. The final, detailed release contents will be decided on only after completion of the validation work.

 

First release: 14 September 2016

Gaia DR1 contents

Gaia DR1 overview page

Second release: 25 April 2018

Gaia DR2 contents

Gaia DR2 overview page

Third release: Gaia EDR3 and Gaia DR3

The third release is composed of Gaia Early Data Release 3 (Gaia EDR3), coming out in 2020 and the full Gaia Early Data Release 3 (Gaia DR3), expected in 2022.

Gaia EDR3: expected 3 December 2020 at 12:00 CET

The Gaia EDR3 catalogue will be consisting of:

  • Improved astrometry (positions, parallaxes, proper motions)
  • Improved photometry (integrated G, GBP, GRP)

Full description of the expected contents of Gaia EDR3

Gaia EDR3 overview page

Gaia DR3: expected first half 2022

The full Gaia DR3 catalogue will be consisting of:

  • Gaia EDR3 contents (see above)
  • Object classification and astrophysical parameters, together with BP/RP spectra and/or RVS spectra they are based on, for spectroscopically and (spectro-)photometrically well-behaved objects.
  • Mean radial velocities for stars with available atmospheric-parameter estimates.
  • Variable-star classifications together with the epoch photometry used for the stars.
  • Solar-system results with preliminary orbital solutions and individual epoch observations.
  • Non-single stars.
  • Quasars and Extended Objects results
  • An additional data set, called the Gaia Andromeda Photometric Survey (GAPS), consisting of the photometric time series for *all* sources located in a 5.5 degree radius field centred on the Andromeda galaxy.

References:

Full release for the nominal mission: TBD

The catalogue will be consisting of:

  • Full astrometric, photometric, and radial-velocity catalogues.
  • All available variable-star and non-single-star solutions.
  • Source classifications (probabilities) plus multiple astrophysical parameters (derived from BP/RP, RVS, and astrometry) for stars, unresolved binaries, galaxies, and quasars. Some parameters may not be available for faint(er) stars.
  • An exo-planet list.
  • All epoch and transit data for all sources.

Pending further approvals of mission extensions additional release(s) will take place (currently extension until the end of 2020 has been approved and an indicative approval until the end of 2022 has been given).