Browsing by Author "Pignata, G."

Now showing 1 - 14 of 14
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    Alert Classification for the ALeRCE Broker System: The Light Curve Classifier
    (2021) Sánchez-Sáez, P.; Reyes, I.; Valenzuela, C.; Förster, F.; Eyheramendy, S.; Elorrieta, F.; Bauer, F. E.; Cabrera-Vives, G.; Estévez, P. A.; Catelan, Márcio; Pignata, G.; Huijse, P.; De Cicco, D.; Arévalo, P.; Carrasco-Davis, R.; Abril, J.; Kurtev, R.; Borissova, J.; Arredondo, J.; Castillo-Navarrete, E.; Rodríguez, D.; Ruz-Mieres, D.; Moya, A.; Sabatini-Gacitúa, L.; Sepúlveda-Cobo, C.; Camacho-Iñiguez, E.
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    Alert Classification for the ALeRCE Broker System: The Real-time Stamp Classifier
    (2021) Carrasco-Davis, R.; Reyes, E.; Valenzuela, C.; Förster, F.; Estévez, P. A.; Pignata, G.; Bauer, F. E.; Reyes, I.; Sánchez-Sáez, P.; Cabrera-Vives, G.; Eyheramendy, S.; Catelan, Márcio; Arredondo, J.; Castillo-Navarrete, E.; Rodríguez-Mancini, D.; Ruz-Mieres, D.; Moya, A.; Sabatini-Gacitúa, L.; Sepúlveda-Cobo, C.; Mahabal, A. A.; Silva-Farfán, J.; Camacho-Iñiguez, E.; Galbany, L.
    We present a real-time stamp classifier of astronomical events for the Automatic Learning for the Rapid Classification of Events broker, ALeRCE. The classifier is based on a convolutional neural network, trained on alerts ingested from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Using only the science, reference, and difference images of the first detection as inputs, along with the metadata of the alert as features, the classifier is able to correctly classify alerts from active galactic nuclei, supernovae (SNe), variable stars, asteroids, and bogus classes, with high accuracy (~94%) in a balanced test set. In order to find and analyze SN candidates selected by our classifier from the ZTF alert stream, we designed and deployed a visualization tool called SN Hunter, where relevant information about each possible SN is displayed for the experts to choose among candidates to report to the Transient Name Server database. From 2019 June 26 to 2021 February 28, we have reported 6846 SN candidates to date (11.8 candidates per day on average), of which 971 have been confirmed spectroscopically. Our ability to report objects using only a single detection means that 70% of the reported SNe occurred within one day after the first detection. ALeRCE has only reported candidates not otherwise detected or selected by other groups, therefore adding new early transients to the bulk of objects available for early follow-up. Our work represents an important milestone toward rapid alert classifications with the next generation of large etendue telescopes, such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory....
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    Persistent and occasional: Searching for the variable population of the ZTF/4MOST sky using ZTF Data Release 11
    (2023) Sánchez-Sáez, P.; Arredondo, J.; Bayo, A.; Arévalo, P.; Bauer, F. E.; Cabrera-Vives, G.; Catelan, Márcio; Coppi, P.; Estévez, P. A.; Förster, F.; Hernández-García, L.; Huijse, P.; Kurtev, R.; Lira, P.; Muñoz Arancibia. A. M.; Pignata, G.
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    Supernova 2011gt in IC 4913 = Psn J19564826-3719375
    (2011) Howerton, S.; Drake, A. J.; Djorgovski, S. G.; Mahabal, A.; Graham, M. J.; Williams, R.; Prieto, J. L.; Catelan, Marcio; McNaught, R. H.; Garradd, G.; Beshore, E. C.; Larson, S. M.; Christensen, E.; Jacques, C.; Pimentel, E.; Miller, P.; Roche, P.; Tripp, A.; Miles, R.; Holmes, R.; Foglia, S.; Buzzi, L.; Anderson, J.; Pignata, G.
    Report the discovery of an apparent supernova in public images from the Siding Spring Survey (SSS). SN 2011 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2011gt Sep. 26.42 19 56 48.26 -37 19 37.5 16.0 7".6 E, 4".5 N The new object was designated PSN J19564826-3719375 when it was posted on the Central Bureau's TOCP webpage and is here designated SN 2011gt based on the spectroscopic confirmation reported below. Additional CCD magnitudes for 2011gt (unfiltered unless otherwise noted): Aug. 22.48 UT, [18.5 (SSS); Sept. 27.109, 15.7 (C. Jacques and E. Pimentel, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; position end figures 48s.25, 37".9; UCAC2 reference stars; image posted at URL http://ceamig-rea.net/SUPERNOVAE/CONFIRMATIONS/PSN_J19564826-3719375/I4913.jpg); 27.467, R = 15.6 (P. Miller, P. Roche, A. Tripp, R. Miles, R. Holmes, S. Foglia, and L. Buzzi with the 2.0-m f/10 Faulkes Telescope South + Bessell R filter at Siding Spring; position end figures 48s.28, 38".0; PPMXL catalogue; image posted at URL http://www.astrogeo.va.it/pub/TOCP/PSN_I4913_FTS.jpg); 27.467, R = 17.5 (Joseph Brimacombe, Cairns, Australia; position end figures 48s.27, 37".3; image at http://www.flickr.com/photos/43846774@N02/6190491181/); Oct. 1.560, R = 17.6 (Brimacombe; image posted at the following website URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43846774@N02/6203147137/). J. Anderson, Universidad de Chile; and G. Pignata, Universidad Andres Bello, on behalf of the Millennium Center for Supernova Science, report that they obtained a spectrogram of PSN J19564826-3719375 = SN 2011gt on Sept. 30.1 UT with the Magellan II Clay 6.5-m telescope (+ LDSS3) at Las Campanas Observatory, which shows it to be a type-Ia supernova. Comparison with a library of supernova spectra via the "Supernova Identification" tool (Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) provides very good matches with normal type-Ia events around 3 weeks past maximum light....
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    Supernova 2012bu in NGC 3449 = Psn J10525661-3256071
    (2012) Howerton, S.; Drake, A. J.; Djorgovski, S. G.; Mahabal, A.; Graham, M. J.; Williams, R.; Prieto, J. L.; Catelan , Marcio; McNaught, R. H.; Garradd, G.; Beshore, E. C.; Larson, S. M.; Christensen, E.; Elenin, L.; Morrell, N.; Lopez, P.; Lira, P.; Pignata, G.; Bufano, F.
    Report the discovery of an apparent supernova in public images from the Siding Spring Survey (SSS). SN 2012 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2012bu Jan. 16.69 10 52 56.61 -32 56 07.1 18.4 37".2 E, 27".7 S The variable was designated PSN J10525661-3256071 when it was posted at the Central Bureau's TOCP webpage and is here designated SN 2012bu based on the spectroscopic confirmation reported below. Further CCD magnitudes for 2012bu: 2010 June 26.40 UT, [19.2 (SSS); 2012 Jan. 18.436, 17.9 (Joseph Brimacombe, Cairns, Australia; 51-cm RCOS telescope + STL11K camera + luminance filter at the New Mexico Skies Observatory near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A.; position end figures 56s.53, 07".7); 18.45, 18.3 (L. Elenin, Lyubertsy, Russia; remotely taken at the ISON-NM Observatory near Mayhill with a 0.45-m f/2.8 telescope; position end figures 56s.52, 07".7; UCAC3 reference stars; limiting mag about 20.0). The image by Brimacombe is posted at the following website URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43846774@N02/6722843895/. N. Morrell, Las Campanas Observatory; P. Lopez and P. Lira, Universidad de Chile; and G. Pignata and F. Bufano, Universidad Andres Bello, report that an optical spectrogram (range 370-910 nm) of PSN J10525661-3256071 = SN 2012bu, obtained on Mar. 30.14 UT with the du Pont 2.5-m telescope (+ WFCCD) at Las Campanas Observatory, shows it to be a type-II supernova. Adopting a recession velocity of 3274 km/s for NGC 3449 (Theureau et al., 1998, A.Ap. Suppl. 130, 333; via NED), the best fits to this spectrum found by GELATO (Harutyunyan et al. 2008, A.Ap. 488,383; publicly available at website URL https://gelato.tng.iac.es) is with spectra of evolved type-II-plateau supernovae.
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    The VVV Survey of the Milky Way: first year results
    (2011) Minniti, D.; Clariá, J. J.; Saito, R. K.; Hempel, M.; Lucas, P. W.; Rejkuba, M.; Toledo, I.; Gonzalez, O. A.; Alonso-García, J.; Irwin, M. J.; Gonzalez-Solares, E.; Cross, N.; Ivanov, V. D.; Soto, M.; Dékány, I.; Angeloni, R.; Catelan, Marcio; Amôres, E. B.; Gurovich, S.; Emerson, J. P.; Lewis, J.; Hodgkin, S.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Zoccali, M.; Sale, S. E.; Barbá, R.; Barbuy, B.; Beamin, J. C.; Helminiak, K.; Borissova, J.; Folkes, S. L.; Gamen, R. C.; Geisler, D.; Mauro, F.; Chené, A. -N.; Alonso, M. V.; Gunthardt, G.; Hanson, M.; Kerins, E.; Kurtev, R.; Majaess, D.; Martín, E.; Masetti, N.; Mirabel, I. F.; Monaco, L.; Moni Bidin, C.; Padilla, N.; Rojas, A.; Pietrzynski, G.; Saviane, I.; Valenti, E.; Weidmann, W.; López-Corredoira, M.; Ahumada, A. V.; Aigrain, S.; Arias, J. I.; Bica, E.; Bandyopadhyay, R. M.; Baume, G.; Bedin, L. R.; Bonatto, C.; Bronfman, L.; Carraro, G.; Contreras, C.; Davis, C. J.; de Grijs, R.; Dias, B.; Drew, J. E.; Fariña, C.; Feinstein, C.; Fernández Lajús, E.; Gieren, W.; Goldman, B.; Gosling, A.; Hambly, N. C.; Hoare, M.; Jordán, A.; Kinemuchi, K.; Maccarone, T.; Merlo, D. C.; Mennickent, R. E.; Morelli, L.; Motta, V.; Palma, T.; Popescu, B.; Parisi, M. C.; Parker, Q.; Pignata, G.; Read, M. A.; Ruiz, M. T.; Roman-Lopes, A.; Schreiber, M. R.; Schröder, A. C.; Smith, M.; Sodré, L., Jr.; Stephens, A. W.; Walton, N. A.; Zijlstra, A. A.; Tamura, M.; Tappert, C.; Thompson, M. A.; Vanzi, L.
    The VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) is an ESO public near-IR variability survey that is scanning the Milky Way bulge and an adjacent section of the Galactic mid-plane. The survey will take 1929 hours of observations with the VISTA 4.1-m telescope during five years, covering a billion point sources across an area of 520 sqdeg, including 36 known globular clusters and more than 350 open clusters. The final product will be a deep IR atlas in five passbands (0.9 - 2.5 microns) and a catalogue of more than a million variable point sources....
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    The VVV Survey: New Results (Part I)
    (2014) Minniti, D.; Saito, R. K.; Hempel, M.; Lucas, P. W.; Rejkuba, M.; Toledo, I.; Gonzalez, O. A.; Alonso-García, J.; Irwin, M. J.; Gonzalez-Solares, E.; Hodgkin, S. T.; Lewis, J. R.; Cross, N.; Ivanov, V. D.; Kerins, E.; Emerson, J. P.; Soto, M.; Amôres, E. B.; Gurovich, S.; Dékány, I.; Angeloni, R.; Beamin, J. C.; Catelan, Marcio; Padilla, N.; Zoccali, M.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Moni Bidin, C.; Mauro, F.; Geisler, D.; Folkes, S. L.; Sale, S. E.; Borissova, J.; Kurtev, R.; Ahumada, A. V.; Alonso, M. V.; Adamson, A.; Arias, J. I.; Bandyopadhyay, R. M.; Barbá, R. H.; Barbuy, B.; Baume, G. L.; Bedin, L. R.; Benjamin, R.; Bica, E.; Bonatto, C.; Bronfman, L.; Carraro, G.; Chenè, A. N.; Clariá, J. J.; Clarke, J. R. A.; Contreras, C.; Corvillón, A.; de Grijs, R.; Dias, B.; Drew, J. E.; Fariía, C.; Feinstein, C.; Fernández-Lajús, E.; Gamen, R. C.; Gieren, W.; Goldman, B.; González-Fernández, C.; Grand, R. J. J.; Gunthardt, G.; Hambly, N. C.; Hanson, M. M.; Helminiak, K.; Hoare, M. G.; Huckvale, L.; Jordán, A.; Kinemuchi, K.; Longmore, A.; López-Corredoira, M.; Maccarone, T.; Majaess, D.; Martín, E.; Masetti, N.; Mennickent, R. E.; Mirabel, I. F.; Monaco, L.; Morelli, L.; Motta, V.; Palma, T.; Parisi, M. C.; Parker, Q.; Peñaloza, F.; Pietrzyński, G.; Pignata, G.; Popescu, B.; Read, M. A.; Rojas, A.; Roman-Lopes, A.; Ruiz, M. T.; Saviane, I.; Schreiber, M. R.; Schröder, A. C.; Sharma, S.; Smith, M. D.; Sodré, L.; Stead, J.; Stephens, A. W.; Tamura, M.; Tappert, C.; Thompson, M. A.; Valenti, E.; Vanzi, L.; Walton, N. A.; Weidmann, W.; Zijlstra, A.
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    The VVV Survey: New Results (Part II)
    (2014) Minniti, D.; Saito, R. K.; Hempel, M.; Lucas, P. W.; Rejkuba, M.; Toledo, I.; Gonzalez, O. A.; Alonso-García, J.; Irwin, M. J.; Gonzalez-Solares, E.; Hodgkin, S. T.; Lewis, J. R.; Cross, N.; Ivanov, V. D.; Kerins, E.; Emerson, J. P.; Soto, M.; Amôres, E. B.; Gurovich, S.; Dékány, I.; Angeloni, R.; Beamin, J. C.; Catelan, Marcio; Padilla, N.; Zoccali, M.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Moni Bidin, C.; Mauro, F.; Geisler, D.; Folkes, S. L.; Sale, S. E.; Borissova, J.; Kurtev, R.; Ahumada, A. V.; Alonso, M. V.; Adamson, A.; Arias, J. I.; Bandyopadhyay, R. M.; Barbá, R. H.; Barbuy, B.; Baume, G. L.; Bedin, L. R.; Benjamin, R.; Bica, E.; Bonatto, C.; Bronfman, L.; Carraro, G.; Chenè, A. N.; Clariá, J. J.; Clarke, J. R. A.; Contreras, C.; Corvillón, A.; de Grijs, R.; Dias, B.; Drew, J. E.; Fariña, C.; Feinstein, C.; Fernández-Lajús, E.; Gamen, R. C.; Gieren, W.; Goldman, B.; González-Fernández, C.; Grand, R. J. J.; Gunthardt, G.; Hambly, N. C.; Hanson, M. M.; Helminiak, K.; Hoare, M. G.; Huckvale, L.; Jordán, A.; Kinemuchi, K.; Longmore, A.; López-Corredoira, M.; Maccarone, T.; Majaess, D.; Martín, E.; Masetti, N.; Mennickent, R. E.; Mirabel, I. F.; Monaco, L.; Morelli, L.; Motta, V.; Palma, T.; Parisi, M. C.; Parker, Q.; Peñaloza, F.; Pietrzyński, G.; Pignata, G.; Popescu, B.; Read, M. A.; Rojas, A.; Roman-Lopes, A.; Ruiz, M. T.; Saviane, I.; Schreiber, M. R.; Schröder, A. C.; Sharma, S.; Smith, M. D.; Sodré, L.; Stead, J.; Stephens, A. W.; Tamura, M.; Tappert, C.; Thompson, M. A.; Valenti, E.; Vanzi, L.; Walton, N. A.; Weidmann, W.; Zijlstra, A.
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    Transient Classification Report for 2020-12-01
    (2020) Dodin, A.; Tsvetkov, D.; Shatski, N.; Belinski, A.; Galbany, L.; Munoz-Arancibia, A.; Forster, F.; Bauer, F. E.; Hernandez-Garcia, L.; Pignata, G.; Camacho, E.; Silva-Farfan, J.; Mourao, A.; Arredondo, J.; Cabrera-Vives, G.; Carrasco-Davis, R.; Estevez, P. A.; Huijse, P.; Reyes, E.; Reyes, I.; Sanchez-Saez, P.; Valenzuela, C.; Castillo, E.; Ruz-Mieres, D.; Rodriguez-Mancini, D.; Catelan, Marcio; Eyheramendy, S.; Graham, M. J.
    F. Forster, F.E. Bauer, G. Pignata, J. Arredondo, G. Cabrera-Vives, R. Carrasco-Davis, P.A. Estevez, P. Huijse, E. Reyes, I. Reyes, P. Sanchez-Saez, C. Valenzuela, E. Castillo, D. Ruz-Mieres, D. Rodriguez-Mancini, F.E. Bauer, M. Catelan, S. Eyheramendy, M.J. Graham on behalf of the ALeRCE broker report/s the discovery of a new astronomical transient.
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    VISTA Milky Way Public Survey
    (2009) Minniti, D.; Lucas, P.; Ahumada, A. V.; Zoccali, M.; Catelan, Marcio; Morelli, L.; Tappert, C.; Pignata, G.; Toledo, I.; Ruiz, M. T.; Carraro, G.; Casassus, S.; Bronfman, L.; Barbá, R. H.; Gamen, R.; Gieren, W.; Geisler, D.; Pietrzynski, G.; Mennickent, R. E.; Kurtev, R.; Borissova, J.; Mirabel, F.; Ivanov, V. D.; Saviane, I.; Vanzi, L.; Monaco, L.; Rejkuba, M.; Messineo, M.; Bedin, L.; Stephens, A.; Barbuy, B.; Bica, E.; Clariá, J. J.; CASU (VDFS) Team; WFAU (VDFS) Team; Emerson, J.; Drew, J.; López-Correidora, M.; Martin, E.; Goldman, B.; Gianinni, T.; Eisloeffel, J.; Groot, P.; Fabregat, J.; Hambly, N.; Longmore, A.; Walton, N.; de Grijs, R.; Hoare, M.; Schroeder, A.; Naylor, T.; Barlow, M.; Zijlstra, A.; White, G.; Gosling, A.; McGowan, K.; Adamson, A.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Thompson, M.; Cropper, M.; Lucey, J.; Kerins, E.; Hodgkin, S.; Pinfield, D.
    We propose a public IR variability survey, named ``Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea'' (VVV), of the Milky Way bulge and an adjacent section of the mid-plane where star formation activity is high. This would take 1920 hours, covering ∼ 10^9 point sources within an area of 520 sq deg, including 33 known globular clusters and ∼ 350 open clusters. The final products will be a deep IR atlas in 5 passbands and a catalogue of ∼ 10^6 variable point sources. These will produce a 3-D map of the surveyed region (unlike single-epoch surveys that only give 2-D maps) using well-understood primary distance indicators such as RR Lyrae stars. It will yield important information on the ages of the populations. The observations will be combined with data from MACHO, OGLE, EROS, VST, SPITZER, HST, CHANDRA, INTEGRAL, and ALMA for a complete understanding of the variable sources in the inner Milky Way. Several important implications for the history of the Milky Way, for globular cluster evolution, for the population census of the bulge and center, and for pulsation theory would follow from this survey....
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    VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV): Current Status and First Results
    (2010) Saito, R.; Hempel, M.; Alonso-García, J.; Toledo, I.; Borissova, J.; González, O.; Beamin, J. C.; Minniti, D.; Lucas, P.; Emerson, J.; Ahumada, A.; Aigrain, S.; Alonso, M. V.; Amôres, E.; Angeloni, R.; Arias, J.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Barbá, R.; Barbuy, B.; Baume, G.; Bedin, L.; Bica, E.; Bronfman, L.; Carraro, G.; Catelan, Marcio; Clariá, J.; Contreras, C.; Cross, N.; Davis, C.; de Grijs, R.; Dékány, I.; Janet Drew, J. D.; Fariña, C.; Feinstein, C.; Fernández Lajús, E.; Folkes, S.; Gamen, R.; Geisler, D.; Gieren, W.; Goldman, B.; Gosling, A.; Gunthardt, G.; Gurovich, S.; Hambly, N.; Hanson, M.; Hoare, M.; Irwin, M.; Ivanov, V.; Jordán, A.; Kerins, E.; Kinemuchi, K.; Kurtev, R.; Longmore, A.; López-Corredoira, M.; Maccarone, T.; Martín, E.; Masetti, N.; Mennickent, R.; Merlo, D.; Messineo, M.; Mirabel, F.; Monaco, L.; Moni Bidin, C.; Morelli, L.; Padilla, N.; Palma, T.; Parisi, M. C.; Parker, Q.; Pavani, D.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Pietrzynski, G.; Pignata, G.; Rejkuba, M.; Rojas, A.; Roman Lopes, A.; Ruiz, M. T.; Sale, S.; Saviane, I.; Schreiber, M.; Schröder, A.; Sharma, S.; Smith, M.; Sodré, L., Jr.; Soto, M.; Stephens, A.; Tamura, M.; Tappert, C.; Thompson, M.; Valenti, E.; Vanzi, L.; Weidmann, W.; Zoccali, M.
    VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) is a public ESO near-IR variability survey aimed at scanning the Milky Way Bulge and an adjacent section of the mid-plane. VVV observations started in October 2009 during ESO science verification. Regular observations for the first year of the survey have been conducted since February 2010 and will cover a total area of 520 square degrees in five passbands and five epochs. Here we address the first results obtained from the VVV Survey as well as the current status of the observations....
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    VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV): Halfway Status and Results
    (2014) Hempel, M.; Minniti, D.; Dékány, I.; Saito, R. K.; Lucas, P. W.; Emerson, J. P.; Ahumada, A. V.; Aigrain, S.; Alonso, M. V.; Alonso-García, J.; Amôres, E. B.; Angeloni, R.; Arias, J.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Barbá, R. H.; Barbuy, B.; Baume, G.; Beamin, J. C.; Bedin, L.; Bica, E.; Borissova, J.; Bronfman, L.; Carraro, G.; Catelan, Marcio; Clariá, J. J.; Contreras, C.; Cross, N.; Davis, C.; de Grijs, R.; Drew, J. E.; Fariña, C.; Feinstein, C.; Fernández-Lajús, E. F.; Folkes, S.; Gamen, R. C.; Geisler, D.; Gieren, W.; Goldman, B.; González, O.; Gosling, A.; Gunthardt, G.; Gurovich, S.; Hambly, N. C.; Hanson, M.; Hoare, M.; Irwin, M. J.; Ivanov, V. D.; Jordán, A.; Kerins, E.; Kinemuchi, K.; Kurtev, R.; Longmore, A.; López-Corredoira, M.; Maccarone, T.; Martín, E.; Masetti, N.; Mennickent, R. E.; Merlo, D.; Messineo, M.; Mirabel, I. F.; Monaco, L.; Moni-Bidin, C.; Morelli, L.; Padilla, N.; Palma, T.; Parisi, M. C.; Parker, Q.; Pavani, D.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Pietrzynski, G.; Pignata, G.; Rejkuba, M.; Rojas, A.; Roman-Lopes, A.; Ruiz, M. T.; Sale, S. E.; Saviane, I.; Schreiber, M. R.; Schröder, A. C.; Sharma, S.; Smith, M.; Sodré, L., Jr.; Soto, M.; Stephens, A. W.; Tamura, M.; Tappert, C.; Thompson, M. A.; Toledo, I.; Valenti, E.; Vanzi, L.; Weidmann, W.; Zoccali, M.
    The VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) survey is one of six near-infrared ESO public surveys, and is now in its fourth year of observing. Although far from being complete, the VVV survey has already delivered many results, some directly connected to the intended science goals (detection of variable stars, microlensing events, new star clusters), others concerning more exotic objects, e.g., novae. Now, at the end of the fourth observing period, and comprising roughly 50% of the proposed observations, the status of the survey, as well some of results based on the VVV data, are presented....
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    VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV): The public ESO near-IR variability survey of the Milky Way
    (ELSEVIER, 2010) Minniti, D.; Lucas, P. W.; Emerson, J. P.; Saito, R. K.; Hempel, M.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Ahumada, A. V.; Alonso, M. V.; Alonso Garcia, J.; Arias, J. I.; Bandyopadhyay, R. M.; Barba, R. H.; Barbuy, B.; Bedin, L. R.; Bica, E.; Borissova, J.; Bronfman, L.; Carraro, G.; Catelan, M.; Claria, J. J.; Cross, N.; de Grijs, R.; Dekany, I.; Drew, J. E.; Farina, C.; Feinstein, C.; Fernandez Lajus, E.; Gamen, R. C.; Geisler, D.; Gieren, W.; Goldman, B.; Gonzalez, O. A.; Gunthardt, G.; Gurovich, S.; Hambly, N. C.; Irwin, M. J.; Ivanov, V. D.; Jordan, A.; Kerins, E.; Kinemuchi, K.; Kurtev, R.; Lopez Corredoira, M.; Maccarone, T.; Masetti, N.; Merlo, D.; Messineo, M.; Mirabel, I. F.; Monaco, L.; Morelli, L.; Padilla, N.; Palma, T.; Parisi, M. C.; Pignata, G.; Rejkuba, M.; Roman Lopes, A.; Sale, S. E.; Schreiber, M. R.; Schroeder, A. C.; Smith, M.; Sodre, L., Jr.; Soto, M.; Tamura, M.; Tappert, C.; Thompson, M. A.; Toledo, I.; Zoccali, M.; Pietrzynski, G.
    We describe the public ESO near-IR variability survey (VVV) scanning the Milky Way bulge and an adjacent section of the mid-plane where star formation activity is high. The survey will take 1929 h of observations with the 4-m VISTA telescope during 5 years (2010-2014), covering similar to 10(9) point sources across an area of 520 deg(2), including 33 known globular clusters and similar to 350 open clusters. The final product will be a deep near-IR atlas in five passbands (0.9-2.5 mu m) and a catalogue of more than 106 variable point sources. Unlike single-epoch surveys that, in most cases, only produce 2-D maps, the VVV variable star survey will enable the construction of a 3-D map of the surveyed region using well-understood distance indicators such as RR Lyrae stars, and Cepheids. It will yield important information on the ages of the populations. The observations will be combined with data from MACHO, OGLE, EROS, VST, Spitzer, HST, Chandra, INTEGRAL, WISE, Fermi LAT, XMM-Newton, GAIA and ALMA for a complete understanding of the variable sources in the inner Milky Way. This public survey will provide data available to the whole community and therefore will enable further studies of the history of the Milky Way, its globular cluster evolution, and the population census of the Galactic Bulge and center, as well as the investigations of the star forming regions in the disk. The combined variable star catalogues will have important implications for theoretical investigations of pulsation properties of stars. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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    VVV DR1: The first data release of the Milky Way bulge and southern plane from the near-infrared ESO public survey VISTA variables in the Via Lactea
    (EDP SCIENCES S A, 2012) Saito, R. K.; Hempel, M.; Minniti, D.; Lucas, P. W.; Rejkuba, M.; Toledo, I.; Gonzalez, O. A.; Alonso Garcia, J.; Irwin, M. J.; Gonzalez Solares, E.; Hodgkin, S. T.; Lewis, J. R.; Cross, N.; Ivanov, V. D.; Kerins, E.; Emerson, J. P.; Soto, M.; Amores, E. B.; Gurovich, S.; Dekany, I.; Angeloni, R.; Beamin, J. C.; Catelan, M.; Padilla, N.; Zoccali, M.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Bidin, C. Moni; Mauro, F.; Geisler, D.; Folkes, S. L.; Sale, S. E.; Borissova, J.; Kurtev, R.; Ahumada, A. V.; Alonso, M. V.; Adamson, A.; Arias, J. I.; Bandyopadhyay, R. M.; Barba, R. H.; Barbuy, B.; Baume, G. L.; Bedin, L. R.; Bellini, A.; Benjamin, R.; Bica, E.; Bonatto, C.; Bronfman, L.; Carraro, G.; Chene, A. N.; Claria, J. J.; Clarke, J. R. A.; Contreras, C.; Corvillon, A.; de Grijs, R.; Dias, B.; Drew, J. E.; Farina, C.; Feinstein, C.; Fernandez Lajus, E.; Gamen, R. C.; Gieren, W.; Goldman, B.; Gonzalez Fernandez, C.; Grand, R. J. J.; Gunthardt, G.; Hambly, N. C.; Hanson, M. M.; Helminiak, K. G.; Hoare, M. G.; Huckvale, L.; Jordan, A.; Kinemuchi, K.; Longmore, A.; Lopez Corredoira, M.; Maccarone, T.; Majaess, D.; Martin, E. L.; Masetti, N.; Mennickent, R. E.; Mirabel, I. F.; Monaco, L.; Morelli, L.; Motta, V.; Palma, T.; Parisi, M. C.; Parker, Q.; Penaloza, F.; Pietrzynski, G.; Pignata, G.; Popescu, B.; Read, M. A.; Rojas, A.; Roman Lopes, A.; Ruiz, M. T.; Saviane, I.; Schreiber, M. R.; Schroeder, A. C.; Sharma, S.; Smith, M. D.; Sodre, L., Jr.; Stead, J.; Stephens, A. W.; Tamura, M.; Tappert, C.; Thompson, M. A.; Valenti, E.; Vanzi, L.; Walton, N. A.; Weidmann, W.; Zijlstra, A.
    Context. The ESO public survey VISTA variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) started in 2010. VVV targets 562 sq. deg in the Galactic bulge and an adjacent plane region and is expected to run for about five years.