VALLENARI, AntonellaAntonellaVALLENARI2020-11-052020-11-052018978-1-107-19234-81743-9213http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12386/28168The first Gaia data release took place in 2016, delivering astrometry and photometry for more than 1 billion sources in our Galaxy. After almost one year, Gaia data have already become the reference for astrometry, with applications in a wide range of topics. In this paper we summarize the impressive quality and the known limitations of the data; and we present the extensive validation work that was done by the Gaia Consortium before publication. We review a few results based on Gaia first data release, while looking ahead at the upcoming second data releaseSTAMPAenConference paper10.1017/S17439213170083162-s2.0-85060093831https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-international-astronomical-union/article/gaia-first-data-release-and-beyond/C089735CEFF0F91F71C20A1F311E64E82018IAUS..334..139VFIS/05 - ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICA