Estimating the selection function of Gaia DR3 subsamples

¹ Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA Leiden, The Netherlands
e-mail: acastro@strw.leidenuniv.nl
² Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
³ INAF–Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Strada Osservatorio 20, Pino Torinese 10025 Torino, Italy
⁴ Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
⁵ School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia
⁶ Centre of Excellence for Astrophysics in Three Dimensions (ASTRO-3D), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
⁷ Center for Computational Astrophysics, Flatiron Institute, 162 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA

Received: 30 March 2023
Accepted: 17 June 2023

Abstract

Context. Understanding the intricacies behind the presence and absence of sources in an astronomical catalogue is crucial for the accurate interpretation of astronomical data. In particular, for the multi-dimensional Gaia data, filters and cuts on different parameters or measurements introduce a selection function that may unintentionally alter scientific conclusions in subtle ways.

Aims. We aim to develop a methodology to estimate the selection function for different subsamples of stars in the Gaia catalogue.

Methods. Comparing the number of stars in a given subsample to that in the overall Gaia catalogue provides an estimate of the subsample membership probability as a function of sky position, magnitude, and colour. The method used to make this estimate must differentiate the stochastic absence of subsample stars from selection effects. When multiplied with the overall Gaia catalogue selection function, this provides the total selection function of the subsample.

Results. We present our new method for estimating the selection function by applying it to the sources in Gaia DR3 with heliocentric radial velocity measurements. We also compute the selection function for the stars in the Gaia-Sausage/Enceladus sample, confirming that the apparent asymmetry of its debris across the sky is merely caused by selection effects.

Conclusions. The method we have developed estimates the selection function of the stars present in a subsample of Gaia data, given that the subsample is completely contained in the Gaia parent catalogue (for which the selection function is known). This tool is made available in a GaiaUnlimited Python package.