Publikace ÚTF

Context. Gaia Data Release 2 provides high-precision astrometry and three-band photometry for about 1.3 billion sources over the
full sky. The precision, accuracy, and homogeneity of both astrometry and photometry are unprecedented.
Aims. We highlight the power of the Gaia DR2 in studying many fine structures of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (HRD). Gaia
allows us to present many different HRDs, depending in particular on stellar population selections. We do not aim here for completeness
in terms of types of stars or stellar evolutionary aspects. Instead, we have chosen several illustrative examples.
Methods. We describe some of the selections that can be made in Gaia DR2 to highlight the main structures of the Gaia HRDs.
We select both field and cluster (open and globular) stars, compare the observations with previous classifications and with stellar
evolutionary tracks, and we present variations of the Gaia HRD with age, metallicity, and kinematics. Late stages of stellar evolution
such as hot subdwarfs, post-AGB stars, planetary nebulae, and white dwarfs are also analysed, as well as low-mass brown dwarf objects.
Results. The Gaia HRDs are unprecedented in both precision and coverage of the various Milky Way stellar populations and stellar
evolutionary phases. Many fine structures of the HRDs are presented. The clear split of the white dwarf sequence into hydrogen and
helium white dwarfs is presented for the first time in an HRD. The relation between kinematics and the HRD is nicely illustrated.
Two different populations in a classical kinematic selection of the halo are unambiguously identified in the HRD. Membership and
mean parameters for a selected list of open clusters are provided. They allow drawing very detailed cluster sequences, highlighting fine
structures, and providing extremely precise empirical isochrones that will lead to more insight in stellar physics.
Conclusions. Gaia DR2 demonstrates the potential of combining precise astrometry and photometry for large samples for studies in
stellar evolution and stellar population and opens an entire new area for HRD-based studies.