VLBI astrometry of radio stars to link radio and optical celestial reference frames - II. 11 radio stars

TL;DR

This paper presents new VLBI astrometry for 11 radio stars, improving the link between radio and optical celestial reference frames by providing precise positions, parallaxes, and proper motions, especially at the bright end.

Contribution

It expands the sample of radio stars with precise VLBI measurements, enhancing the alignment between ICRF and Gaia-CRF at the optical bright end.

Findings

All 11 radio stars detected with VLBA.

Parallax and proper motion uncertainties below 0.1 mas.

Significant contribution to linking radio and optical reference frames.

Abstract

The alignment between the radio-based International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) and the optical Gaia Celestial Reference Frame (Gaia-CRF) is critical for multi-waveband astronomy, yet systematic offsets at the optical bright end (G<13) limit their consistency. While radio stars offer a potential link between these frames, their utility has been restricted by the scarcity of precise Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) astrometry. In this study, we present new VLBI astrometry of 11 radio stars using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), expanding the existing sample with positions, parallaxes, and proper motions measured. All 11 radio stars were detected, for 10 of which parallaxes and proper motions can be estimated, achieving median uncertainties better than 0.1 mas and 0.1 mas/yr, respectively. These new samples greatly contribute to the link between ICRF and Gaia-CRF at the optical bright end.