Science with the wht Priorities for the 2010-2020 decade
description
Transcript of Science with the wht Priorities for the 2010-2020 decade
Marc Balcells, ING
WELCOME TO THE WHT WELCOME TO THE WHT WORKSHOPWORKSHOP Goals: To empower ING User Communities for
defining ING’s future
To obtain guidance from users in the current transition in 2012, end of International Agreements for Astronomy in the Canary Islands
To shape future of our organisation after recent UK, EU reviews
Previous planning exercises, Previous planning exercises, UK, EUUK, EU 2007 UK Programatic Review
2009 UK Ground Based Facilities Review Panel GBFR, MRR report
2009 STFC Near-Universe, Far-Universe panels NUAP, FUAP
2010 European Telescope Strategy Review Committee ETSRC, Janet Drew report
ING in STFC Dec 2009 ING in STFC Dec 2009 prioritisationprioritisation ING covered til 2012 as per the
Canary Islands International Agreements
After 2012 future is open –
➥Ensuring need for WHT in coming decade
➥Finding a satisfactory operation agreement
Working for ING’s futureWorking for ING’s future…… ING senior astronomers
ING Science Advisory Committee
ING Board
ING strategy notes: http://www.ing.iac.es/About-ING/Strategy/decadal_strategy_2010_2020.html
BBut the final word belongs to ut the final word belongs to
YOUYOU ING to continue only if users
say/show they need ING Direct input from users on
instrument priorities, modes of operation
InstrumentationInstrumentation What current instruments are most
useful for your science Is new instrumentation needed Priority shift from AO to WF WF astronomy
Spectroscopy? Imaging? Optical vs NIR High vs mid spectral resolution
Wide Field Astronomy @ Wide Field Astronomy @ ETSRCETSRCETSRC Report, Executive Summary:
A key feature [ … ] is the construction of a massive-multiplex wide field spectrograph for a 4-m telescope […]In the north, the WHT appears to be the best choice on account of it having the largest available primary mirror.
ETSRC Report, Sect. 3.4:
Another attractive possibility is a new WF NIR imager using the full field of view at the prime focus of WHT or CAHA 3.5m telescopes. [ … ] enable observations beyond the +60o declination limit of UKIRT [ … ] a large part of the Perseus Arm [ … ] M81 and M82. [ … ] supplement UKIRT, CFHT and VISTA, [ … ] all sky coverage, [ … ] 4-5 magnitudes fainter than 2MASS.
Our Our Science priorities of WF Science priorities of WF spectroscopyspectroscopy A sought outcome from this meeting: Gauge science interest for WF
spectroscopy at WHT Classical science cases for WF MOS:
1. Cosmology redshift surveys – BAO etc2. GAIA follow-up
Radial velocities Chemical tagging
3. Galaxy evolution Each different instrumental requirements
If If WF MOS a priorityWF MOS a priority ING will
Create science team for science case Create instrument team to develop
instrument proposal
Goal is proposal submitted Dec 2010 Instrument could be ready 2016 Tuesday session: start core science
team
WF capabilities at WHT PFWF capabilities at WHT PFOptical design, Tibor Agòcs
Presentation, Day-2 session
FOV up to 2 deg diameter
Important mechanical changes at top end
Classical observing vs survey Classical observing vs survey workwork Current, WHT largely classical
observing Should we increase the fraction of
time devoted to surveys By how much: 20%? 50%? 70%?
Visitor instrument programVisitor instrument program Program successful to date
ExPo, FastCam, GHaFaS, PlanetPol, PNS, SAURON, Ultracam
Does the community want this to continue
More in ETSRC reportMore in ETSRC report Rationalisation of instruments Reducing night support at telescope Mechanisms for training students, aka
INT INT; IDS @ INT EU-wide open telescope access Common TAC
Are we willing to give up our national TACs
The upcoming HARPS-NEF The upcoming HARPS-NEF instrumentinstrument Stabilised echelle spectrograph
R>100,000 Private instrument (Harvard-Geneva)
Kepler field survey follow-up 2011 – 2014
Open access through national TACs Plan on using HARPS yourself
Workshop formatWorkshop format•Day 1:•Talks•Discussions•Lunch break
12:30 – 13:25 Posters
•Final Discussion period•Vacate room 16:55 sharp
Day 2: Analyse science
focus of any prevailing new instrument proposed in day 1 (Lecture Theatre,
RAS) Who is planning to
come tomorrow:
LOC AnnouncementsLOC Announcements WIFI available in room
Netwrk: Geological-Basement
Psswd: sediment
Speakers bring your talk on pen-drive
PC, Mac, project ppt, pptx, pdf
We are videorecording talks and discussions
Questions: please write them down, hand to LOC member
SoSo… enjoy the run! … enjoy the run!