In order to apply for any of the following theses or internships, the candidate must have no more than 3 exams left.
The ESA Gaia mission is best known for its unprecedented stellar catalog, but it has also provided precise observations of thousands of Solar System objects (SSOs). These measurements, released in Gaia Data Release 3, include highly accurate astrometry (right ascension and declination) that are critical for refining the orbital parameters of asteroids and characterizing the overall population of small bodies. By combining Gaia’s data with dynamical models, researchers can evaluate the quality of orbital predictions and gain deeper insight into Solar System dynamics.
Activities:
Conduct a short literature review on the Gaia Focused Product Release and the methods for processing Solar System observations.
Learn how to access Gaia astrometry using API tools and query relevant SSO datasets.
Compute the expected astrometric positions of selected targets using the SPICE toolkit.
Perform a direct comparison between Gaia-reported measurements and computed positions.
Analyze the distribution of residuals and discuss implications for orbital accuracy and Gaia’s contribution to small body characterization.
This project combines data analysis, programming, and orbital dynamics, providing practical experience with one of the most advanced astrometric datasets available.
Topic: Orbital Dynamics / Data Analysis
Tutor: Riccardo Lasagni Manghi
Uploaded: 17/09/2025