VVV DR1: The first data release of the Milky Way bulge and southern plane from the near-infrared ESO public survey VISTA variables in the Via Lactea

Context. The ESO public survey VISTA variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) started in 2010. VVV targets 562 sq. deg in the Galactic bulge and an adjacent plane region and is expected to run for about five years. Aims. We describe the progress of the survey observations in the first observing season, the observing strategy, and quality of the data obtained. Methods. The observations are carried out on the 4-m VISTA telescope in the ZYJHK(s) filters. In addition to the multi-band imaging the variability monitoring campaign in the K-s filter has started. Data reduction is carried out using the pipeline at the Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit. The photometric and astrometric calibration is performed via the numerous 2MASS sources observed in each pointing. Results. The first data release contains the aperture photometry and astrometric catalogues for 348 individual pointings in the ZYJHK(s) filters taken in the 2010 observing season. The typical image quality is similar to 0 ''.9-1 ''.0. The stringent photometric and image quality requirements of the survey are satisfied in 100% of the JHK(s) images in the disk area and 90% of the JHK(s) images in the bulge area. The completeness in the Z and Y images is 84% in the disk, and 40% in the bulge. The first season catalogues contain 1.28 x 10(8) stellar sources in the bulge and 1.68 x 10(8) in the disk area detected in at least one of the photometric bands. The combined, multi-band catalogues contain more than 1.63 x 10(8) stellar sources. About 10% of these are double detections because of overlapping adjacent pointings. These overlapping multiple detections are used to characterise the quality of the data. The images in the JHK(s) bands extend typically similar to 4 mag deeper than 2MASS. The magnitude limit and photometric quality depend strongly on crowding in the inner Galactic regions. The astrometry for K-s = 15-18 mag has rms similar to 35-175 mas. Conclusions. The VVV Survey data products offer a unique dataset to map the stellar populations in the Galactic bulge and the adjacent plane and provide an exciting new tool for the study of the structure, content, and star-formation history of our Galaxy, as well as for investigations of the newly discovered star clusters, star-forming regions in the disk, high proper motion stars, asteroids, planetary nebulae, and other interesting objects.

FONDAP Center for Astrophysics [15010003]

FONDAP Center for Astrophysics

BASAL CATA Center for Astrophysics and Associated Technologies [PFB-06]

BASAL CATA Center for Astrophysics and Associated Technologies

FONDECYT from CONICYT

FONDECYT from CONICYT

Ministry for the Economy, Development, and Tourism [P07-021-F]

Ministry for the Economy, Development, and Tourism

CONICYT [32080016, Al'32090002]

CONICYT

Proyecto FONDECYT [1090213, 1110393, 3110188, 3100029, 1110326]

Proyecto FONDECYT

FONDECYT

FONDECYT [1080086]

Comitee Mixto ESOGobierno de Chile

Comitee Mixto ESO-Gobierno de Chile

National Natural Science Foundation of China [11073001]

National Natural Science Foundation of China

US National Science Foundation

US National Science Foundation [0607497, 1009550]

Millennium Center for Supernova Science [P06-045-F]

Millennium Center for Supernova Science

Programa Bicentenario de Ciencia y Tecnologa de CONICYT

Programa Bicentenario de Ciencia y Tecnologa de CONICYT

Proyecto Anillo

Proyecto Anillo [ACT-86]

ESOGovernment of Chile Mixed Committee

ESO-Government of Chile Mixed Committee

Gemini-CONICYT [32090014/2009]

GeminiCONICYT

FAPESP

FAPESP

CNPq

CNPq

Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT)

Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) [SFRH/BPD/42239/2007]

Centro de Astrofisica de Valparaiso

Centro de Astrofisica de Valparaiso [DIUV23/2009]