Galactic Plane Hα Surveys: IPHAS and VPHAS+

Abstract

The optical Galactic Plane Hα surveys IPHAS and VPHAS+ are dramatically improving our understanding of Galactic stellar populations and stellar evolution by providing large samples of stars in short lived, but important, evolutionary phases, and high quality homogeneous photometry and images over the entire Galactic Plane. Here I summarise some of the contributions these surveys have already made to our understanding of a number of key areas of stellar and Galactic astronomy.Nicholas J. Wright, on behalf of the IPHAS and VPHAS+ consortia, see the survey websites www.iphas.org and www.vphasplus.org for a full list of collaborators.