Optimization of the Observing Cadence for the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time: A Pioneering Process of Community-focused Experimental Design

Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a ground-based astronomical facility under construction, a joint project of the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, designed to conduct a multipurpose 10 yr optical survey of the Southern Hemisphere sky: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Significant flexibility in survey strategy remains within the constraints imposed by the core science goals of probing dark energy and dark matter, cataloging the solar system, exploring the transient optical sky, and mapping the Milky Way. The survey’s massive data throughput will be transformational for many other astrophysics domains and Rubin’s data access policy sets the stage for a huge community of potential users. To ensure that the survey science potential is maximized while serving as broad a community as possible, Rubin Observatory has involved the scientific community at large in the process of setting and refining the details of the observing strategy. The motivation, history, and decision-making process of this strategy optimization are detailed in this paper, giving context to the science-driven proposals and recommendations for the survey strategy included in this Focus Issue.

Exoplanet transits observed at UNI's Astronomical Observatory

This work present the exoplanet transit program developed at OAUNI on the 2016 and 2017 campaigns. Seventeen exoplanet transits were observed and in six of them more than one event was registered. In a couple of cases the same transit were gathered four times. Preliminary reductions are shown in three transits (WASP-80 b, WASP-52 b, and WASP-77 A b). The associated light curves show well-defined events and their modeling let to infer physical parameters of each system. These measurements are the first ones of their kind collected by a peruvian astronomical facility.

MEDIDAS DE CALIDAD DE CIELO (SEEING) USANDO LA TÉCNICA DIMM EN EL OBSERVATORIO DE HUANCAYO

Mostramos la implementación de un instrumento de medición de la calidad de cielo (seeing) basado en la técnica del Monitoreo del Movimiento Diferencial de Imagen (DIMM). Este instrumento permite la medición precisa y sistemática del seeing, así como su evolución temporal. Fue monitoreado el seeing en el Observatorio de Huancayo durante siete noches consecutivas de Agosto de 2012. El seeing promedio fue de 1.34” ± 0 .33”.En 14% del tiempo observado el seeing estuvo por debajo de 1”, y en 71% del tiempo, por debajo de 1.5”. El dominio de la técnica y su aplicabilidad nos permitirá usar el instrumento en varios lugares donde campañas de medición de seeing sean programadas dentro del Perú. La selección de una facilidad astronómica óptica profesional (observatorio astronómico), será favorecida con medidas DIMM futuras. Palabras clave.-Medición de la calidad de cielo, Diferencial de imagen (DIMM), Observatorio de Huancayo. ABSTRACTWe show the implementation of an instrument to measure the sky quality for astronomical purposes (seeing) using the Differential Image Motion Monitor technique. This instrument let us an acute and systematic measurement of seeing along with its temporal evolution. We monitored seeing at Huancayo Observatory during seven consecutive nights in 2012 August. Mean seeing was 1.34” ± 0.33”. In 14% of the observed time, seeing was below than 1”, and in 71% below than 1.5”. The successful implementation of this technique and its applicability let us using this instrument in several places where a program of site testing will be scheduled in Peru. The selection of a professional astronomical facility (as an astronomical observatory) will be benefited with DIMM measurements. Keywords.-Measuring qualityofsky, Differential Image (DIMM), Huancayo observatory.

Status of astronomy in Rwanda and volunteer work at Kigali Institute of Education (KIE)

Until 2009, astronomy was undeveloped in Rwanda, without astronomy courses at universities and schools, astronomical facilities, or any outreach programmes. With the international year of astronomy in 2009, Dr. Pheneas Nkundabakura and Dr. Jean Uwamahoro from the KIE Maths-Physics department, both graduates from the South African NASSP Programme (http://www.star.ac.za), started a program of implementing the astronomical knowledge at schools and universities. During the same year 2009, IAU donated 100 galileoscopes for the secondary schools, and several astronomy workshops were organised for the teachers. IAU donated also 5 laptops to help students and lecturers to learn and use astronomy software. With this, KIE students have now a possibility to choose astronomy/space science for their undergraduate final year research projects. Moreover, there is an ongoing effort to look for further collaboration towards establishing the first astronomical facility (observatory) in the country.

A Global Robotic Telescope Network for Time-Domain Science

Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT) is currently building a new kind of general-purpose astronomical facility: a fully robotic network of telescopes of 2m, 1m and 0.4m apertures and homogeneous instrumentation. A pan-network approach to scheduling (rather than per individual telescope) offers redundancy in the event of poor weather or technical failure, as well as the ability to observe a target around the clock. Here we describe the network design and instrumentation under development, together with the main science programmes already being lead by LCOGT staff.

A Potential Site for the World's Largest Single Dish, FAST

We have carried out a series of measurements at some locations in Guizhou Province and one additional site at the Urumqi Astronomical Station in the Xinjiang autonomous region, to check on their suitability, from the point of view of interference, for the construction of a Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). This large facility will in some sense act as a prototype for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). Measurements were made using a commercial receiver in the frequency range 25–1500 MHz. The results in Guizhou look quite promising. A protected radio quiet zone in Guizhou would make it an ideal location for an international radio astronomical facility, and would establish the FAST site as a natural SKA location.

New Techniques

Routine millimagnitude photometry may require a new approach to reduction of photometric errors. Such an approach is outlined in this paper; it stresses elimination of each error as close to its source as possible. The possibilities provided by modern technology are reviewed in this light. An engineering design group dedicated to photometry is a prerequisite and an on-site photometric technician may be necessary. In this concept, observers are mainly remote users of a database. Implied is the idea of accurate photometry necessarily developing into a single but multi-site astronomical facility (cf. VLBI) and the communal discipline that goes with it.