Galactic Plane H$\alpha$ Surveys: IPHAS & VPHAS+

TL;DR

The IPHAS and VPHAS+ surveys provide extensive, high-quality Hα data of the Galactic Plane, significantly advancing our knowledge of stellar populations and evolution.

Contribution

This paper summarizes the key contributions of the IPHAS and VPHAS+ surveys to Galactic and stellar astronomy, highlighting new insights gained.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of stellar populations in the Galactic Plane

Identification of stars in short-lived evolutionary phases

High-quality, homogeneous photometric data over the entire Galactic Plane

Abstract

The optical Galactic Plane H$\alpha$ surveys IPHAS and VPHAS+ are dramatically improving our understanding of Galactic stellar populations and stellar evolution by providing large samples of stars in short lived, but important, evolutionary phases, and high quality homogeneous photometry and images over the entire Galactic Plane. Here I summarise some of the contributions these surveys have already made to our understanding of a number of key areas of stellar and Galactic astronomy.