Blue straggler stars in the large scale surveys era

Abstract

Gaia’s precise astrometric and photometric data have transformed our understanding of blue straggler stars (BSS) by facilitating their accurate identification, distance measurement, and spatial mapping across various environments. This has enabled larger and more detailed samples to be used to study their origins, formation mechanisms, and role in stellar evolution. Overall, Gaia’s capabilities mark a significant leap forward in unraveling the mysteries of blue stragglers. In this poster, we present how the large scale surveys era has marked a transformative period in our understanding of BSS, providing deeper insights into their properties, origins, and the role they play in stellar evolution and cluster dynamics.