Astrometry for Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper advocates for a Gaia-like astrometry mission as a successor to Gaia, emphasizing its importance for advancing dynamic studies across various astronomical scales over the next 50 years.

Contribution

It proposes a Gaia successor mission with two Gaia-like observations spaced twenty years apart to significantly enhance astrometric data for dynamic studies.

Findings

Two Gaia-like missions would improve astrometric precision.

The mission would enable breakthroughs in understanding dark matter and galaxy dynamics.

It underscores the mission's long-term scientific value.

Abstract

In May 2013, I responded with the present paper to ESA's call for White Papers for the definition of Large missions. This was half a year before the launch of ESA's large astrometry mission Gaia. The present proposal for a Gaia successor mission is similar to Gaia, because two Gaia-like missions at an interval of about twenty years would provide a foundation for studies of dynamics in all branches of astronomy from the solar system and stellar systems to compact galaxies, quasars and dark matter by astrometric data which cannot be surpassed in the next 50 years.