Astronomical Catalogs for Locating Gravitational-wave Events

TL;DR

This paper develops methods to estimate stellar masses and metallicities of galaxies in catalogs to improve localization of gravitational-wave events, aiding electromagnetic follow-up observations in multi-messenger astronomy.

Contribution

It introduces new techniques for estimating galaxy properties in catalogs and validates their accuracy, enhancing strategies for GW event localization.

Findings

Estimated stellar masses closely match those in S82-MGC.

Provided relations for stellar mass estimation across multiple catalogs.

Developed an interactive tool for prioritizing follow-up observations.

Abstract

Gravitational wave transients are caused by some of the most energetic events in the Universe, and a precise location would allow deep examination of the counterpart by electromagnetic waves (telescopes collecting light), the combination of GW and EM resulting in very much improved science return (multi-messenger Astronomy). Since the GW detectors do not provide good localization on the sky, the faint counterpart will be very difficult to find. One strategy to help the search is to look first where mass is concentrated and thus the prior probability of GW events is highest. In the first part of this paper, we present methods used to estimate stellar masses and metallicities of galaxies and galaxy clusters in different catalogs. In the second part of the paper, we test our estimation accuracy by comparing our results with stellar masses given in Stripe 82 Massive Galaxy Catalogue (S82-MGC). The relation between stellar mass we found and that from S82-MGC is provided for GWGC, 2MASS-GLADE, and WISExSCOS catalog in the last part of the paper. Our results are used in an interactive web-based tool (Skymap Viewer) for astronomers to decide where to look first in EM follow-up observations of GW events in the future.