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PLATO Benchmark Stars
The WP125500 Benchmark Stars catalogue provides fundamental stellar parameters for the ESA PLATO mission.
Sample Statistics
Total Stars
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🥇 Gold Sample
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B1 Mass, Radius & Lum
🥈 Silver Sample
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B1 Mass & Radius
🥉 Bronze Sample
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≥1 B1 Property
B1 Benchmark Stars
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B2 Benchmark Stars
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B3 Benchmark Stars
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With Benchmark Mass
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With Benchmark Radius
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With Benchmark Luminosity
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With Benchmark Age
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With Benchmark Teff
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With Benchmark log(g)
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With Benchmark log(ρ)
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With Benchmark Limb Darkening
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When using this data, please cite: Merle, Maxted, Creevey et al. (in prep.)
Stellar Properties & Benchmark Classification
As defined in Plato Benchmark Stars: I. The initial benchmark sample (Merle et al. in prep.), the PLATO Benchmark Stars (PBS) catalogue assesses eight key fundamental and atmospheric stellar properties (mass, radius, luminosity, age, effective temperature, surface gravity, mean stellar density and limb darkening coefficients) across three precision benchmark levels (B1, B2, B3). Benchmark levels are evaluated independently per property for each star, reflecting model dependence.
The Three Benchmark Levels
Level B1
Model-Independent
“The set of the model assumptions is well defined.”
Direct, accurate, and precise measurements from first principles with negligible model dependence (e.g., double-lined eclipsing binary orbital dynamics, interferometric angular diameters with parallaxes).
Level B2
Model-Dependent
“The set of the model assumptions is loosely defined.”
Properties inferred using stellar models or theoretical inputs where systematic errors from model dependence are well understood (e.g., cluster isochrone fitting, detailed asteroseismic frequency modeling).
Level B3
Empirical Relations
“The model is empirical.”
Properties obtained from phenomenological or empirical scaling relations relating various parameters (e.g., mass-luminosity or mass-radius relations, asteroseismic scaling relations).
The Three Benchmark Samples
Gold Sample
Mass, Radius & Lum B1
15 benchmark stars
Stars with Mass (M), Radius (R), and Luminosity (L) all determined at the B1 level (model-independent direct measurements).
Silver Sample
Mass & Radius B1
195 benchmark stars
Stars with both Mass (M) and Radius (R) determined at the B1 level.
Bronze Sample
Single Parameter B1
416 benchmark stars
Stars with at least one parameter determined at the B1 level across all assessed stellar properties.
The Eight Benchmark Stellar Properties
1. Stellar Mass
| Level | Method Tag | Description | PBS Reference | Other Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | EB + SB2 | Detached eclipsing binary with double-lined spectra | 2020MNRAS.498..332M | — |
| B1 | Visual Binary | Astrometric + radial velocity binary solution | 2023A&A...672A.119G | 2016AJ....152..141B |
| B1 | Photodynamical | Full N-body photodynamical modeling of transiting system | 2022ApJ...924...66Y | — |
| B2 | Seismic frequencies | Individual mode frequencies combined with spectroscopic Teff | 2017A&A...601A..67C | 2023ApJ...952..131M |
| B2 | Evolution model | Grid-based modeling fitting Teff, [Fe/H], L or log g | 2023A&A...674A..39G | 2020A&A...635A..87B |
| B3 | Empirical relation | Mass–luminosity or mass–radius empirical polynomial relations | 2025MNRAS.543..769M | 2018MNRAS.479.5491E, 2018MNRAS.478.4659M |
| B3 | Seismic scaling relation (not yet in DB) | νmax and Δν scaling relations | 2016A&A...595A..14G | — |
2. Stellar Radius
| Level | Method Tag | Description | PBS Reference | Other Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Interferometry | Direct angular diameter measurement via optical interferometry + Gaia parallax | 2018ApJ...855....1G | 2017A&A...597A.137K |
| B1 | EB+SB2 | Light curve + radial velocity joint modeling for eclipsing binary | 2020MNRAS.498..332M | — |
| B1 | Occultation | Lunar or planetary occultation angular diameter + Gaia parallax | 2019NatAs...3..511B | — |
| B1 | Photodynamical | Photodynamical transit light curve fit | 2022ApJ...924...66Y | — |
| B2 | Seismic frequencies | Individual mode frequency fitting combined with Teff | 2017A&A...601A..67C | 2023ApJ...952..131M |
| B2 | Evolution model | Stellar evolutionary track/isochrone interpolation | 2021A&A...650A.194G | 2020A&A...635A..87B |
| B2 | SED fitting | Bolometric flux Fbol from SED integration + Teff + parallax | 2021MNRAS.504.5788R | 2019AJ....157...56L |
| B2 | Lum + Teff | Derived via Stefan–Boltzmann law from independent L and Teff | 2015ApJ...804...64M | — |
| B2 | vsini + Porb | Rotational velocity v sin i and rotational period Prot (assuming sin i ≈ 1) | 2009ApJ...690..394R | — |
| B2 | SB1 transit + empirical mass | Transit depth Rp/R* combined with empirical host star mass | 2025MNRAS.539.3741M | — |
| B3 | Empirical relation (not yet in DB) | Mass–radius polynomial or surface brightness–color relation | 2018MNRAS.479.5491E | — |
| B3 | SBCR (not yet in DB) | Surface Brightness–Color Relation (V-K, G-K, etc.) | 2020A&A...642A.147N | — |
| B3 | Seismic scaling relation (not yet in DB) | Seismic radius scaling using Δν and νmax | 2016A&A...595A..14G | — |
3. Stellar Luminosity
| Level | Method Tag | Description | PBS Reference | Other Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Fbol + parallax | Integrated bolometric flux Fbol combined with Gaia parallax | 2020A&A...642A.115C | 2024A&A...682A.145S |
| B2 | BC + parallax | Apparent magnitude + bolometric correction BC + Gaia parallax | 2024A&A...688A..13L | 2012A&A...537A.111C |
| B2 | Seismic frequencies | Luminosity derived from asteroseismic modeling (R and Teff constraint) | 2015MNRAS.452.2127S | 2012A&A...545A..17C |
| B2 | Evolution model | Isochrone/track fitting output luminosity | 2017A&A...601A..67C | 2020A&A...635A..87B |
| B2 | Teff + R | Derived via Stefan–Boltzmann law (L = 4πR2σTeff4) | 2014MNRAS.438..590P | — |
| B3 | SBCR (not yet in DB) | Angular diameter from SBCR + parallax + Teff | not used in database | — |
4. Stellar Age
| Level | Method Tag | Description | PBS Reference | Other Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Meteoritic | Isotopic dating of solar system meteorites (Sun reference anchor) | 2023A&A...674A..39G | 2017GeCoA.201..341C, 2015A&A...580A..74B |
| B2 | Seismic frequencies | Asteroseismic core hydrogen fraction / individual frequencies modeling | 2017A&A...601A..67C | 2023ApJ...952..131M |
| B2 | Evolution model | Isochrone/track grid modeling fitting atmospheric parameters | 2023A&A...674A..39G | 1993A&A...275..101E |
| B2 | Cluster | Open cluster or association membership (isochrone fit to cluster CMD) | 1998A&A...331...81P | 2024A&A...685A..42T |
| B2 | White dwarf (not yet in DB) | White dwarf companion cooling age | 2021MNRAS.505.3165R, 2023MNRAS.524.3236R | — |
| B2 | Cosmochronometry (not yet in DB) | Radioactive decay isotopic ratios (Th/Eu, U/Th) | 2001Nature.409.1008C | — |
| B2 | Li depletion (not yet in DB) | Lithium depletion boundary (LDB) in low-mass cluster members | 2013MNRAS.434.2438J | — |
| B3 | Gyrochronology | Empirical age–rotation period relation | 2020ApJ...888...43C | 2007ApJ...669.1167B |
| B3 | Kinematics | Galactic velocity dispersion (U, V, W) age calibration | 2023ApJ...954L..50E | 2023ApJ...945...87E |
| B3 | Activity (not yet in DB) | Chromospheric activity indicators (log R′HK) age relation | 2008ApJ...687.1264M | — |
| B3 | Seismic scaling relation (not yet in DB) | Seismic age from scaling relations | 2017A&A...601A..67C | — |
| B3 | Abundance age relation (not yet in DB) | Chemical clock abundance ratios ([Y/Mg], [Y/Al]) | 2020A&A...640A..81N | — |
5. Effective Temperature
| Level | Method Tag | Description | PBS Reference | Other Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Interferometry | Direct angular diameter θ + Fbol via Stefan–Boltzmann law (Teff ∝ (Fbol/θ2)1/4) | 2018ApJ...855....1G | 2012ApJ...757..112B, 2024A&A...682A.145S |
| B1 | TEB | Total eclipse light curve modeling + binary radii (T2/T1 ratio anchor) | 2022MNRAS.517.5129M | 2022MNRAS.514.2883M |
| B1 | DiffSpecSun | High-resolution differential spectroscopy relative to the Sun | 2012A&A...543A..29M | — |
| B2 | Halpha | Profile fitting of Balmer lines (Hα, Hβ) | 2021A&A...650A.194G | — |
| B2 | IRFM | Infrared Flux Method (ratio of bolometric to monochromatic IR flux) | 2024A&A...688A..13L | 2006MNRAS.373...13C |
| B2 | TeffCol | Color–Teff empirical calibrations (e.g. V−K, B−V, Gaia colors) | 2020AJ....159..280B | 2003AJ....126..778V |
| B2 | DiffSpec | Differential spectroscopy relative to reference benchmark star | 2021A&A...646A..78M | — |
| B2 | Spectroscopy | High-resolution spectroscopic LTE/NLTE iron line excitation equilibrium | 2005ApJS..159..141V | — |
| B2 | Spectroscopy + photometry | Combined spectroscopic model fitting and multi-band photometry | 2008A&A...487.1095C | — |
| B2 | Evolution model | Isochrone/track grid modeling fit output | 2017ApJS..229...30M | — |
| B2 | Interferometry + BC | Angular diameter from interferometry combined with bolometric correction | 2018ApJ...855....1G | 2018ApJ...855...1G |
| B2 | Spectroscopy + seismology (not yet in DB) | Spectroscopic line fitting constrained by asteroseismic log g | 2024A&A...688A..13L | — |
| B3 | Empirical relation (not yet in DB) | Empirical calibrations from broad-band photometry | 2018MNRAS.479.5491E | — |
6. Surface Gravity
| Level | Method Tag | Description | PBS Reference | Other Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | EB + SB2 | Direct dynamical surface gravity from SB2+EB mass and radius | 2020MNRAS.498..332M | — |
| B1 | Solar Twin | High-precision differential spectroscopic log g anchor relative to Sun | 2012A&A...543A..29M | — |
| B1 | From M B1 and R B1 | Calculated directly from B1 Mass and B1 Radius (g = G M / R2) | 2020ApJ...904..112B | — |
| B1 | Transit + SB1 (not yet in DB) | Density from transit + mass from SB1 mass function | 2023Univ...9..498M | — |
| B2 | From M B1 and R B2 / From R B1 and M B2 | Derived from combination of B1 parameter and B2 parameter | 2005ApJ...627..464B, 2024A&A...682A.145S | 2015A&A...582A..49H |
| B2 | Seismic frequencies | Asteroseismic log g derived from frequency of maximum power νmax | 2017A&A...601A..67C | 2023ApJ...952..131M |
| B2 | Spectroscopy | High-resolution spectroscopic line profile / ionisation balance (Fe I / Fe II) | 2005ApJS..159..141V | — |
| B2 | Spectroscopy + Seismology | Spectroscopic parameter extraction with seismic log g prior | 2024A&A...688A..13L | — |
| B2 | Evolution model | Isochrone / evolutionary track grid interpolation | 2025A&A...696A..62O | — |
| B2 | Transit + Mass estimate | Mean stellar density from transit light curve + empirical host mass | 2025MNRAS.539.3741M | — |
| B2 | DiffSpec (not yet in DB) | Differential spectroscopic ionization equilibrium | not used in database | — |
| B3 | Empirical relation | Empirical polynomial calibrations from spectra or photometry | 2021MNRAS.504.5788R | 2018MNRAS.479.5491E, 2018MNRAS.478.4659M |
| B3 | Seismic Scaling Relation (not yet in DB) | Seismic log g from scaling relations | 2012MNRAS.419.2411M | — |
7. Mean Stellar Density
| Level | Method Tag | Description | PBS Reference | Other Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | EB + SB2 | Direct mean density ρ* from eclipsing binary model + radial velocity solution | 2020MNRAS.498..332M | — |
| B1 | Transit | Direct mean density ρ* from planetary transit light curve fitting (a/R* and period) | 2025MNRAS.543..769M | 2025MNRAS.539.3741M |
| B1 | From M B1 and R B1 (not yet in DB) | Calculated directly from B1 Mass and B1 Radius | — | — |
| B2 | Transit + Mass estimate | Transit light curve modeling combined with empirical host star mass constraint | 2025MNRAS.543..769M | 2025MNRAS.539.3741M |
8. Limb Darkening
| Level | Method Tag | Description | PBS Reference | Other Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | No method needed | Empirical limb darkening profile measured from high-precision transit/occultation | 2024MNRAS.534.3893V | 2023MNRAS.523.5186M |
| B1 | Direct inverse (not yet in DB) | Interferometric intensity profile inversion | — | — |
| B2 | Synthetic profile | Model atmosphere synthetic limb darkening law coefficients (Claret, LDTk, etc.) | 2024MNRAS.534.3893V | 2017A&A...597A.137K |
Here is only show the fundamental parameters that have been assessed. For a complete access to all fields, click on an entry in the table or use the TAP service.
TAP Service — ADQL Query
Execute ADQL queries against the benchmark stars catalogue.
TAP endpoint:
Examples: