LSST Goes to Long Beach

Suzanne Jacoby and Suzanne Nichols

LSST had a strong showing at the 213th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), which took place January 4-8 in Long Beach, California. Nearly 2500 astronomers were in attendance presenting 1800 scientific papers; the pressroom was active with more than a dozen press conferences and the exhibit floor crowded with 60 booths encouraging interaction. LSST had a large display on the exhibit floor featuring a 8' by 10' image of the team around the mirror blank, a video of project highlights, and an impromptu T-shirt raffle. Originally put up to conceal the back of our display, the T-shirts were so popular we raffled them off at the meeting’s conclusion.

In addition to the exhibit, LSST presented 30 science posters in a special session. These posters are available for viewing on the LSST public website.

One LSST team member in attendance was Suzanne Nichols, a 5th year graduate student in observational astronomy who studies with Dr. John Peterson at Purdue University. Suzanne works on dark matter searches and mapping as well as simulating data for the upcoming LSST telescope. Below she describes highlights from her four favorite LSST posters:

LSST: Cadence Design and Simulation: Cook et al.

Abstract: “The LSST Project has developed an operations simulator to investigate how best to observe the sky to achieve its multiple science goals. We will present the results of simulating 10 years of LSST operations using realistic seeing distributions, historical weather data, scheduled engineering downtime and current telescope and camera parameters.”

This poster describes the operations simulator that tells us how often we need to visit each part of the sky in order to achieve our science goals. For my part, I think that the images of the magnitudes reached in each filter at the 5 sigma level are the most interesting point on this poster. Not only does this highlight exactly how deep we will be able to go in each filter, but it also demonstrates the area of the sky for which we will have very good photometric redshifts, which makes lensing people like me very happy.

Mapping the Milky Way and Near Field Structure with LSST: Bullock et al.

Abstract: “Recent results from large-area surveys have drastically altered our view of the Galaxy, doubling the known population of satellite galaxies and revealing a complex, dynamical structure that is still being shaped by the infall of smaller systems. The multicolor, multi-epoch photometric map created by the LSST will provide an unprecedented means to extend our exploration of the Galaxy’s structure, star formation, chemical enrichment, and accretion history on a panoramic scale.”

This poster presents many of the improvements that LSST will provide to our understanding of the structure of the Milky Way. On this poster my favorite image is the one showing a simulation of stellar halos overlaid with the radius of SDSS results. Then much farther out is the LSST radius. How exciting that we will know all the RR Lyrae up to 400 kpc? That we will know about the smaller galaxies that ours has engulfed? (I say it is very exciting!)

Transients and Variable Stars with LSST: Jones et al.

Abstract: “LSST will open an unprecedented window into the optical transient sky. It will cover more of the sky, more often, and to a deeper limiting magnitude than has previously been possible. Most intriguingly, LSST will also discover new types of transient and variable phenomena. LSST will generate ‘alerts’ within 60 seconds of detecting a new transient, permitting the community to follow up unusual events in greater detail.”

On this poster they highlight all the variable objects that LSST will see. This includes, but is not limited to: Novae, GRB afterglows, Tidal Disruption Flares and completely new objects. The best thing on this poster is the huge question mark in the middle of one graphic. It shows that we just do not know about things that happen on short timescales (aside from GRB afterglows.) So this is a completely unknown thing. Everything seen in that part of the graph will be a totally new discovery!

Simulating the LSST: Jernigan et al.

Abstract: “The science that will be derived from the LSST (from studies of weak lensing to detection of variable and moving sources) depends on a detailed knowledge of the statistical properties of the sources detected within the LSST data stream together with a careful characterization of the statistical and systematic errors. The goal of the LSST Image Simulation group is to develop detailed simulations of images for the LSST. This includes catalogs of stars and galaxies to a depth of r=28th magnitude, variable sources including high proper motion stars, asteroids, and supernovae, extended sources and potential artifacts. From these catalogs high-fidelity image simulations incorporating a multi-layer turbulent atmosphere, detailed models of the optical system for the telescope, camera and control system are derived by ray-tracing individual photons; simulating the full LSST field-of-view.”

On my favorite poster we discuss the LSST simulator and the images it produces as well as the photon ray tracing method used by the simulator. I had to be partial to this poster because it is the one I helped with. Still, I challenge anyone to take a deep look at the image and not be in awe. Pictured on this poster is one chip. A focal plane has 189 chips. Just think of how much information we can get from every focal plane. And that was Just for 15 seconds. Now do it for 10 years. I think this poster illustrates best all the potential for this project. Just look at the image and I think you will agree.

The AAS meets twice a year with the smaller summer meeting taking place in Pasadena, California June 7-11, 2009 and Washington, DC as host of the January 2010 meeting. LSST will be there!