PLATO Mission: Input Catalogs for Calibration and Guidance

This paper details the creation and utilization of two critical stellar catalogs for the PLATO mission: the calibration PLATO Input Catalog (cPIC) and the fine-guidance PLATO Input Catalog (fgPIC). The cPIC, comprising 71671 stars, is essential for in-orbit verification, calibration, and configuration of the PLATO instrument during its commissioning phase. The fgPIC, containing 2640 bright stars, supports the on-board Fine Guidance System (FGS) by providing a set of reference stars for precise spacecraft orientation. The selection criteria for both catalogs are presented, highlighting their impact on the construction of these vital resources. The success of the PLATO mission, which aims to detect and characterize exoplanets, heavily relies on the accuracy and completeness of these catalogs. Any inaccuracies or limitations in the catalogs could potentially affect the quality of the data acquired and the overall scientific output of the mission. Future research should focus on validating and refining these catalogs to ensure optimal performance of the PLATO spacecraft. This includes addressing potential issues such as stellar variability and catalog incompleteness.

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