The Gaia-ASAS-SN Classical Cepheid Sample. I. Sample Selection

Abstract

We present a well-defined and characterized all-sky sample of classical Cepheids in the Milky Way, obtained by combining two time-domain all-sky surveys: Gaia DR2 (Gaia Collaboration et al. 2018) and All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN; Shappee et al. 2014). We first use parallax and variability information from Gaia to select ~30,000 bright (G < 17) Cepheid candidates with M_K < - 1. We then analyze their ASAS-SN V-band light curves, determining periods and classifying the light curves using their Fourier parameters. This results in ~1900 likely Galactic Cepheids, which we estimate to be ≳90% complete and pure within our adopted selection criteria. This is the largest all-sky sample of Milky Way Cepheids that has such a well-characterized selection function, needed for population modeling and for systematic spectroscopic follow-up foreseen with Sloan Digital Sky Survey-V. About 130 of these potential Cepheids have not been documented in the literature even as possible candidates.