Huib Jan van Langevelde (Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE))

Huib Jan van Langevelde Colloquium: VLBI astrometry in the Gaia era

Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

One reason to do astrometric campaigns is to understand the structure, kinematics and evolution of the Galaxy. Gaia is currently revolutionising the field by demonstrating, among other things, that mergers have been important for the assembly of the Galaxy, even in the relatively recent past. VLBI astrometry campaigns can target specific stellar populations and have the advantage that they can reach for parts of the Galaxy that are obscured in the optical. In this talk, I will specifically discuss the progress with programs that use masers to probe either very young or very evolved stars. In many aspects there are synergies between the maser VLBI and Gaia results. The discussion will include prospects for the future, when VLBI with the SKA can possibly improve the accuracy of such observations substantially.