I/363 Cartesian catalog of 30 million Gaia sources (Zhang+, 2025)
A Cartesian catalog of 30 million Gaia sources based on second-order and
Monte Carlo error propagation.
Zhang L., Feng F., Rui Y., Xiao G.-Y., Wang W.
<Res. Astron. Astrophys., 25, 055010 (2025)>
=2025yCat.1363....0Z 2025yCat.1363....0Z
=2025RAA....25e5010Z 2025RAA....25e5010Z
ADC_Keywords: Surveys ; Stars, distances ; Space velocities ; Optical
Keywords: stars - space velocities - Galactic dynamics - proper motions -
parallaxes - radial velocities - covariance matrices
Abstract:
Accurate measurements of stellar positions and velocities are crucial
for studying galactic and stellar dynamics. We aim to create a
Cartesian catalog from Gaia DR3 to serve as a high-precision database
for further research using stellar coordinates and velocities. To
avoid the negative parallax values, we select 31129169 sources in Gaia
DR3 with radial velocity, where the fractional parallax error is less
than 20% (0<σϖ/ϖ<0.2). To select the most accurate
and efficient method of propagating mean and covariance, we use the
Monte Carlo results with 107 samples (MC7) as the benchmark, and
compare the precision of linear, second-order, and Monte Carlo error
propagation methods. By assessing the accuracy of propagated mean and
covariance, we observe that second-order error propagation exhibits
mean deviations of at most 0.5% compared to MC7, with variance
deviations of up to 10%. Overall, this outperforms linear
transformation. Though the Monte Carlo method with 104 samples (MC4)
is an order of magnitude slower than second-order error propagation,
its covariance propagation accuracy reaches 1% when
σ_ϖ/ϖ is below 15%. Consequently, we employ
second-order error propagation to convert the mean astrometry and
radial velocity into Cartesian coordinates and velocities in both
equatorial and galactic systems for 30 million Gaia sources, and apply
MC4 for covariance propagation. The Cartesian catalog and source code
are provided for future applications in high-precision stellar and
galactic dynamics.
Description:
This catalog presents Cartesian positions and velocities of 30 million
Gaia DR3 sources in both the equatorial (ICRS) and Galactic reference
frames. For each source, associated uncertainties and the full 6D
covariance matrix (via correlation coefficients) are provided.
Positions and velocities were derived from Gaia DR3 astrometric and
radial velocity data using second-order error propagation for the mean
values, and Monte Carlo sampling with 10000 realizations for the
covariance matrices.
We selected 31129169 Gaia DR3 sources with radial velocity
measurements and fractional parallax errors less than 20%
(0<sigma_ϖ/ϖ<0.2), to enable high-precision studies of
stellar and Galactic kinematics.
The methods and validation procedures are described in:
Zhang et al. (2025), Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, 25, 055010
https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-4527/adc6da
File Summary:
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FileName Lrecl Records Explanations
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ReadMe 80 . This file
catalog.sam 1229 999 Sample of the catalog, as in original forma
gaiarvdr3.sam 1314 1000 Sample of the catalog, as in VizieR version
ori/* . 34 Original tables of the catalog in
"blank separated value"
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See also:
I/355 : Gaia DR3 Part 1. Main source (Gaia Collaboration, 2022)
Byte-by-byte Description of file: catalog.sam
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1- 4 A4 --- --- [Gaia]
6- 8 A3 --- --- [DR3]
10- 28 I19 --- GaiaDR3 Gaia DR3 source identifier
(DR3_designation)
30- 51 F22.16 pc reqt Distance in equatorial (ICRS) frame
(r_eqt)
53- 73 F21.16 pc e_reqt Uncertainty in reqt (reqterror)
75- 97 F23.16 km/s Vteqt Transverse velocity in ICRS frame
(vt_eqt)
99- 120 F22.16 km/s e_Vteqt Uncertainty in vteqt (vteqterror)
122- 142 F21.16 pc Xeqt X position in ICRS (x_eqt)
144- 164 F21.16 pc e_Xeqt Uncertainty in xeqt (xeqterror)
166- 187 F22.16 pc Xgal X position in Galactic frame (x_gal)
189- 209 F21.16 pc e_Xgal Uncertainty in xgal (xgalerror)
211- 231 F21.16 pc Yeqt Y position in ICRS (y_eqt)
233- 253 F21.16 pc e_Yeqt Uncertainty in yeqt (yeqterror)
255- 274 F20.16 pc Ygal Y position in Galactic frame (y_gal)
276- 295 F20.16 pc e_Ygal Uncertainty in ygal (ygalerror)
297- 316 F20.16 pc Zeqt Z position in ICRS (z_eqt)
318- 336 F19.16 pc e_Zeqt Uncertainty in zeqt (zeqterror)
338- 359 F22.16 pc Zgal Z position in Galactic frame (z_gal)
361- 381 F21.16 pc e_Zgal Uncertainty in zgal (zgalerror)
383- 403 F21.16 km/s VXeqt X velocity in ICRS (vx_eqt)
405- 423 F19.16 km/s e_VXeqt Uncertainty in vxeqt (vxeqterror)
425- 445 F21.16 km/s VXgal X velocity in Galactic frame (vx_gal)
447- 465 F19.16 km/s e_VXgal Uncertainty in vxgal (vxgalerror)
467- 487 F21.16 km/s VYeqt Y velocity in ICRS (vy_eqt)
489- 507 F19.16 km/s e_VYeqt Uncertainty in vyeqt (vyeqterror)
509- 529 F21.16 km/s VYgal Y velocity in Galactic frame (vy_gal)
531- 549 F19.16 km/s e_VYgal Uncertainty in vygal (vygalerror)
551- 571 F21.16 km/s VZeqt Z velocity in ICRS (vz_eqt)
573- 591 F19.16 km/s e_VZeqt Uncertainty in vzeqt (vzeqterror)
593- 613 F21.16 km/s VZgal Z velocity in Galactic frame (vz_gal)
615- 633 F19.16 km/s e_VZgal Uncertainty in vzgal (vzgalerror)
635- 652 F18.16 --- X-YeqtCor Correlation between x and y in ICRS
(xyeqt_corr)
654- 672 F19.16 --- X-YgalCor Correlation between x and y in Galactic
frame (xygal_corr)
674- 691 F18.16 --- X-ZeqtCor Correlation between x and z in ICRS
(xzeqt_corr)
693- 710 F18.16 --- X-ZgalCor Correlation between x and z in Galactic
frame (xzgal_corr)
712- 730 F19.16 --- X-VXeqtCor Correlation between x and vx in ICRS
(xvxeqt_corr)
732- 750 F19.16 --- X-VXgalCor Correlation between x and vx in Galactic
frame (xvxgal_corr)
752- 770 F19.16 --- X-VYeqtCor Correlation between x and vy in ICRS
(xvyeqt_corr)
772- 790 F19.16 --- X-VYgalCor Correlation between x and vy in Galactic
frame (xvygal_corr)
792- 810 F19.16 --- X-VZeqtCor Correlation between x and vz in ICRS
(xvzeqt_corr)
812- 830 F19.16 --- X-VZgalCor Correlation between x and vz in Galactic
frame (xvzgal_corr)
832- 849 F18.16 --- Y-ZeqtCor Correlation between y and z in ICRS
(yzeqt_corr)
851- 869 F19.16 --- Y-ZgalCor Correlation between y and z in Galactic
frame (yzgal_corr)
871- 889 F19.16 --- Y-VXeqtCor Correlation between y and vx in ICRS
(yvxeqt_corr)
891- 909 F19.16 --- Y-VXgalCor Correlation between y and vx in Galactic
frame (yvxgal_corr)
911- 929 F19.16 --- Y-VYeqtCor Correlation between y and vy in ICRS
(yvyeqt_corr)
931- 949 F19.16 --- Y-VYgalCor Correlation between y and vy in Galactic
frame (yvygal_corr)
951- 969 F19.16 --- Y-VZeqtCor Correlation between y and vz in ICRS
(yvzeqt_corr)
971- 989 F19.16 --- Y-VZgalCor Correlation between y and vz in Galactic
frame (yvzgal_corr)
991-1009 F19.16 --- Z-VXeqtCor Correlation between z and vx in ICRS
(zvxeqt_corr)
1011-1029 F19.16 --- Z-VXgalCor Correlation between z and vx in Galactic
frame (zvxgal_corr)
1031-1049 F19.16 --- Z-VYeqtCor Correlation between z and vy in ICRS
(zvyeqt_corr)
1051-1069 F19.16 --- Z-VYgalCor Correlation between z and vy in Galactic
frame (zvygal_corr)
1071-1089 F19.16 --- Z-VZeqtCor Correlation between z and vz in ICRS
(zvzeqt_corr)
1091-1109 F19.16 --- Z-VZgalCor Correlation between z and vz in Galactic
frame (zvzgal_corr)
1111-1129 F19.16 --- VX-VYeqtCor Correlation between vx and vy in ICRS
(vxvyeqt_corr)
1131-1149 F19.16 --- VX-VYgalCor Correlation between vx and vy in Galactic
frame (vxvygal_corr)
1151-1169 F19.16 --- VX-VZeqtCor Correlation between vx and vz in ICRS
(vxvzeqt_corr)
1171-1189 F19.16 --- VX-VZgalCor Correlation between vx and vz in Galactic
frame (vxvzgal_corr)
1191-1209 F19.16 --- VY-VZeqtCor Correlation between vy and vz in ICRS
(vyvzeqt_corr)
1211-1229 F19.16 --- VY-VZgalCor Correlation between vy and vz in Galactic
frame (vyvzgal_corr)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byte-by-byte Description of file: gaiarvdr3.sam
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1- 19 I19 --- GaiaDR3 Gaia DR3 source identifier
(DR3_designation)
21- 36 F16.12 deg RAdeg Right ascension (ICRS) at Ep=2016.0
38- 53 F16.12 deg DEdeg Declination (ICRS) at Ep=2016.0
55- 76 F22.16 pc reqt Distance in equatorial (ICRS) frame
(r_eqt)
78- 101 F24.16 pc e_reqt Uncertainty in reqt (reqterror)
103- 126 F24.16 km/s Vteqt Transverse velocity in ICRS frame
(vt_eqt)
128- 152 F25.16 km/s e_Vteqt Uncertainty in vteqt (vteqterror)
154- 176 F23.16 pc Xeqt X position in ICRS (x_eqt)
178- 200 F23.16 pc e_Xeqt Uncertainty in xeqt (xeqterror)
202- 224 F23.16 pc Xgal X position in Galactic frame (x_gal)
226- 249 F24.16 pc e_Xgal Uncertainty in xgal (xgalerror)
251- 273 F23.16 pc Yeqt Y position in ICRS (y_eqt)
275- 298 F24.16 pc e_Yeqt Uncertainty in yeqt (yeqterror)
300- 322 F23.16 pc Ygal Y position in Galactic frame (y_gal)
324- 347 F24.16 pc e_Ygal Uncertainty in ygal (ygalerror)
349- 371 F23.16 pc Zeqt Z position in ICRS (z_eqt)
373- 396 F24.16 pc e_Zeqt Uncertainty in zeqt (zeqterror)
398- 420 F23.16 pc Zgal Z position in Galactic frame (z_gal)
422- 444 F23.16 pc e_Zgal Uncertainty in zgal (zgalerror)
446- 466 F21.16 km/s VXeqt X velocity in ICRS (vx_eqt)
468- 489 F22.16 km/s e_VXeqt Uncertainty in vxeqt (vxeqterror)
491- 511 F21.16 km/s VXgal X velocity in Galactic frame (vx_gal)
513- 534 F22.16 km/s e_VXgal Uncertainty in vxgal (vxgalerror)
536- 556 F21.16 km/s VYeqt Y velocity in ICRS (vy_eqt)
558- 579 F22.16 km/s e_VYeqt Uncertainty in vyeqt (vyeqterror)
581- 602 F22.16 km/s VYgal Y velocity in Galactic frame (vy_gal)
604- 625 F22.16 km/s e_VYgal Uncertainty in vygal (vygalerror)
627- 647 F21.16 km/s VZeqt Z velocity in ICRS (vz_eqt)
649- 670 F22.16 km/s e_VZeqt Uncertainty in vzeqt (vzeqterror)
672- 692 F21.16 km/s VZgal Z velocity in Galactic frame (vz_gal)
694- 714 F21.16 km/s e_VZgal Uncertainty in vzgal (vzgalerror)
716- 734 F19.16 --- X-YeqtCor Correlation between x and y in ICRS
(xyeqt_corr)
736- 754 F19.16 --- X-YgalCor Correlation between x and y in Galactic
frame (xygal_corr)
756- 774 F19.16 --- X-ZeqtCor Correlation between x and z in ICRS
(xzeqt_corr)
776- 794 F19.16 --- X-ZgalCor Correlation between x and z in Galactic
frame (xzgal_corr)
796- 814 F19.16 --- X-VXeqtCor Correlation between x and vx in ICRS
(xvxeqt_corr)
816- 834 F19.16 --- X-VXgalCor Correlation between x and vx in Galactic
frame (xvxgal_corr)
836- 854 F19.16 --- X-VYeqtCor Correlation between x and vy in ICRS
(xvyeqt_corr)
856- 874 F19.16 --- X-VYgalCor Correlation between x and vy in Galactic
frame (xvygal_corr)
876- 894 F19.16 --- X-VZeqtCor Correlation between x and vz in ICRS
(xvzeqt_corr)
896- 914 F19.16 --- X-VZgalCor Correlation between x and vz in Galactic
frame (xvzgal_corr)
916- 934 F19.16 --- Y-ZeqtCor Correlation between y and z in ICRS
(yzeqt_corr)
936- 954 F19.16 --- Y-ZgalCor Correlation between y and z in Galactic
frame (yzgal_corr)
956- 974 F19.16 --- Y-VXeqtCor Correlation between y and vx in ICRS
(yvxeqt_corr)
976- 994 F19.16 --- Y-VXgalCor Correlation between y and vx in Galactic
frame (yvxgal_corr)
996-1014 F19.16 --- Y-VYeqtCor Correlation between y and vy in ICRS
(yvyeqt_corr)
1016-1034 F19.16 --- Y-VYgalCor Correlation between y and vy in Galactic
frame (yvygal_corr)
1036-1054 F19.16 --- Y-VZeqtCor Correlation between y and vz in ICRS
(yvzeqt_corr)
1056-1074 F19.16 --- Y-VZgalCor Correlation between y and vz in Galactic
frame (yvzgal_corr)
1076-1094 F19.16 --- Z-VXeqtCor Correlation between z and vx in ICRS
(zvxeqt_corr)
1096-1114 F19.16 --- Z-VXgalCor Correlation between z and vx in Galactic
frame (zvxgal_corr)
1116-1134 F19.16 --- Z-VYeqtCor Correlation between z and vy in ICRS
(zvyeqt_corr)
1136-1154 F19.16 --- Z-VYgalCor Correlation between z and vy in Galactic
frame (zvygal_corr)
1156-1174 F19.16 --- Z-VZeqtCor Correlation between z and vz in ICRS
(zvzeqt_corr)
1176-1194 F19.16 --- Z-VZgalCor Correlation between z and vz in Galactic
frame (zvzgal_corr)
1196-1214 F19.16 --- VX-VYeqtCor Correlation between vx and vy in ICRS
(vxvyeqt_corr)
1216-1234 F19.16 --- VX-VYgalCor Correlation between vx and vy in Galactic
frame (vxvygal_corr)
1236-1254 F19.16 --- VX-VZeqtCor Correlation between vx and vz in ICRS
(vxvzeqt_corr)
1256-1274 F19.16 --- VX-VZgalCor Correlation between vx and vz in Galactic
frame (vxvzgal_corr)
1276-1294 F19.16 --- VY-VZeqtCor Correlation between vy and vz in ICRS
(vyvzeqt_corr)
1296-1314 F19.16 --- VY-VZgalCor Correlation between vy and vz in Galactic
frame (vyvzgal_corr)
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History:
From Luyao Zhang, luyoo.z(at)alumni.sjtu.edu.cn
Acknowledgements:
Please cite:
Zhang et al. (2025), "A Cartesian catalog of 30 million Gaia sources
based on second-order and Monte Carlo error propagation", RAA, 25,
045, https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-4527/adc6da
This work has made use of data from the European Space Agency (ESA)
mission Gaia (https://www.cosmos.esa.int/gaia), processed by the Gaia
Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC).
(End) Patricia Vannier [CDS] 22-Apr-2025