PLATO Input Catalogue (PIC)

The PLATO Input Catalogue (PIC) is the official list of stars that PLATO will observe in each sky field. It provides the complete set of targets for transit searches, asteroseismology, spacecraft guidance, instrument calibration, and science validation. The current version (PIC 2.2.0.1) covers the first Long Observation Phase field in the southern hemisphere (LOPS2). This release is applicable for all Guest Observer (GO) proposals for the 1st Announcement of Opportunity (AO-1).

What the PIC Contains

The PIC is composed of four tables grouping all sources in the LOPS2 field:

  • tPIC – Core science targets (P1, P2, P4, P5) and all confirmed/candidate planet hosts
  • fgPIC – Fine Guidance System stars used for spacecraft attitude control
  • cPIC – Instrument calibration stars
  • scvPIC – Science calibration and validation stars

All sub‑catalogues are merged into a single unified PIC target table containing approximately 289,000 stars.

In addition, two supplementary tables are delivered with the PIC:

  • Contaminants – All sources on the LOPS2 that may contaminate PLATO photometry
  • Additional Source ID tables – Cross‑identifications with Gaia, 2MASS, Hipparcos, and others

How Information Is Curated

The construction of the PIC involves:

  • Gaia DR3 classification (intrinsic colours, absolute magnitudes, extinction-corrected CMDs)
  • Magnitude and noise limits set by PLATO science requirements
  • Stellar parameter estimation (temperature, radius, mass, luminosity, distance)
  • Noise-to-signal ratio (NSR) predictions from the PLATO Performance Team

The tPIC Samples

The tPIC is structured around four mission-defined stellar samples:

  • P1 – FGK dwarfs/subgiants with V ≤ 11 and NSR < 50 ppm in one hour
  • P2 – FGK dwarfs/subgiants with V ≤ 8.5 and NSR < 50 ppm in one hour
  • P4 – M dwarfs with V ≤ 16
  • P5 – FGK dwarfs/subgiants with V ≤ 13

All four samples are included in the tPIC and were selected using homogeneous analysis of Gaia-based photometry, extinction corrections, and mission performance requirements.

The Prime Sample

The Prime Sample is a subsample of the tPIC which contains the highest-priority stars for PLATO’s core exoplanet mission. As such, planet candidates orbiting these stars will be validated and their masses will be determined through the Ground-based Observations Programme (GOP), organised by the PLATO Mission Consortium. About 15,000 Prime Sample stars lie inside the nominal LOPS2 field. These stars are selected using science metrics for transit detectability and RV follow-up suitability, and are optimised for detecting Earth-like planets in the habitable zone. Prime Sample targets cannot be proposed as Guest Observer (GO) targets.

Exoplanet-hosting Stars

The tPIC includes all known confirmed and candidate exoplanet hosts in the LOPS2 field. Specialised external catalogues are used when available to ensure accurate stellar parameters for these systems.

References

Questions about the PLATO mission or its Guest Observers Programme? Please contact our PLATO Helpdesk. This will connect you with our PLATO Science Operations Centre and technical specialists from our PLATO Mission Consortium, and our team will be happy to assist you. This website was last updated on 7 April 2026.