Announcement: Vera C. Rubin Observatory

20 Noviembre 2019: In early November, the GEMMA (Gemini in the Era of Multi-Messenger Astronomy) project brought together science communications professionals to explore the unique opportunities and challenges of communicating Multi-Messenger and Time-Domain Astronomy, two rapidly growing fields in astronomy. Funded by the US National Science Foundation, this communications summit hosted more than 30 participants for two days at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, an AURA-managed facility. Until the mid-20th century, our view of the Universe was limited almost entirely to the narrow band of light that could penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere and was visible either to our eyes or to sensitive photographic plates loaded at the focus of increasingly large telescopes. The first major expansion of our view came with the development of radio astronomy, leading to the realization that the Universe could look very different when seen through different “eyes” tuned to a different type of radiation. …

12 Noviembre 2019: Project & Science News An update on LSST Data Rights and in-kind contributions is now available; read the details at this link. Additionally, a public draft of the LSST Data Policy has been released on Docushare. Questions and comments about the evolving policy are welcome on community.lsst.org. Social unrest in Chile in October had an impact on LSST construction progress, as nightly curfews and safety concerns required the adjustment of work hours and transportation to and from the summit. LSST Project Manager Victor Krabbendam, who was in Chile on a scheduled visit when civil protests began on October 18th, was able to assist with logistics so that dome work could continue on the summit when possible. Photos from his visit are available in the LSST Gallery. Because the social situation in Chile continues to be unstable, we are still monitoring events closely, communicating frequently with personnel in Chile, and planning …

29 Octubre 2019: Project & Science News Our thoughts are with our Chile-based colleagues during the recent period of social instability. All LSST staff and their families, as well as contractors and visitors, are safe, and we have stayed in frequent contact with them since the unrest in Chile began. A team from EIE Group and Phase Motion Control has arrived on the summit to start up and test the LSST Dome azimuth drives. As of last week, the bogies had undergone final alignment, installation/connection of drives was complete, and the dome was successfully rotating under power with a provisional friction drive system in place of the final rack-and-piñon system. A short video of the dome rotating is available at this link. The carousel and back flange of the LSST filter exchange system, which were recently transported by plane from Paris, France, have safely arrived at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, …

15 Octubre 2019: Project Science News On October 1st, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) launched NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NSF’s NOIR Lab), which integrates operations of all of NSF’s nighttime astronomical facilities. LSST Operations will be one of the five facilities included in this new organization. The LSST Primary/Tertiary Mirror (M1M3) cell assembly has been successfully integrated with the M1M3 mirror surrogate inside the LSST summit facility building. On October 10th, the mirror surrogate was lifted off the cell’s static supports with the system of hard points and pneumatic actuators that will support the weight of the mirror during telescope operations. Many LSST team members in Tucson, La Serena, and Cerro Pachón contributed to this exciting milestone, and photos of the event are available in the LSST Gallery. The filter exchange system for the LSST Camera has left IN2P3 in Paris, …

24 Septiembre 2019: Project & Science News The LSST Telescope Mount Assembly (TMA) is on the summit! The TMA was successfully transported from the port in Coquimbo to Cerro Pachón during the week following its arrival in Chile on September 7th. The 26 disassembled pieces of the TMA were transported to the summit with a fleet of 9 trucks and 12 trailers. Read more about the move in this recent news item, and view photos in the LSST Gallery. The L1-L2 lens assembly, which consists of two of the three lenses for the LSST Camera, has arrived at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory after being shipped from Arizona Optical Systems (AOS) in Tucson, AZ. The L1L2 contract was managed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and the lens assembly was built by Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado, and its subcontractor AOS in Tucson. L1, which is 1.57 meters (5.1 …

11 Septiembre 2019: Project & Science News A reminder, Daylight Saving Time began in Chile on September 8th; there is now a 4-hour difference between official LSST Project Time (Pacific Standard Time) and the time in Chile. A Joint Status Review of LSST by its funding agencies, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Energy (DOE), was held in Tucson, AZ on August 27-30. Following the review, LSST Project Manager Victor Krabbendam acknowledged the hard work done by the Project team in successfully representing accomplishments and demonstrating problem-solving abilities. Subsystems are currently drafting responses to the review committee’s recommendations. A photo from the closeout report presentation is available in the LSST Gallery. The ship carrying the major components of the LSST Telescope Mount Assembly (TMA) arrived in Coquimbo, Chile on September 7th. TMA Technical Manager Shawn Callahan and LSST Principal Surveyor Michael Logue, assisted by staff in Chile, oversaw unloading …

27 Agosto 2019: Project & Science News More than 300 participants attended the 2019 LSST Project and Community Workshop, an opportunity for LSST Project and Science Community members to network, share progress, and discuss upcoming challenges. Read more about LSST 2019, held August 12-16 in Tucson, AZ, at this link. A high-resolution version of the team photo taken at the workshop is available in the LSST Gallery. A new video promoting LSST premiered during the welcome plenary at LSST 2019. The video features footage collected from attendees at LSST 2018 as part of an ongoing Education and Public Outreach project called “StoryTime Domain.” The video can be viewed on YouTube or downloaded from the LSST Gallery. The LSST Science Advisory Committee (SAC) has reviewed the Letters of Intent that were submitted for developing community event brokers for LSST. Based on the high quality and varied science goals of these letters, all letter-writers are …

6 Agosto 2019: Project & Science News We invite you to attend a free evening talk, “LSST and Black Holes,” on Thursday, August 15, during the LSST Project and Community Workshop (login required). Featured speakers are LSST Project Manager Victor Krabbendam, University of Arizona astrophysicist Feryal Ozel, and Northwestern University’s Raffaella Margutti. Everyone is welcome and no registration is necessary. More information and speaker bios are available at this link. After additional study, LSST has released an updated statement on the large-scale deployment of low Earth orbit satellite constellations. The updated wording can be found at this link. The LSST Auxiliary Telescope (AuxTel) achieved engineering first light on the night of July 23rd, on Cerro Pachón, with all its system components (both hardware and control software) operational, and the telescope pointed at the sky. The AuxTel still has a number of outstanding items to be completed, but this initial on-sky testing indicated that …

17 Julio 2019: Project & Science News Registration for the 2019 LSST Project and Community Workshop is now closed, with 301 people registered for the event. Book your hotel at this link before July 22 in order to receive the LSST 2019 room rate. Save the date: The LSST Project will host a workshop on December 2-4, 2019, in the Princeton, NJ area, on the topic of data processing for LSST. The goal of the workshop is to engage the community in the choice and development of LSST algorithms. It will include presentations from the Project on the current status of LSST algorithms and pipelines, and unconference sessions to encourage open discussion. For additional information and updates, visit the workshop webpage. Viewers enjoyed clear skies above Cerro Pachón during the total solar eclipse on July 2nd; photos taken of the eclipse over the LSST observatory are available in the LSST Gallery. The next …

25 Junio 2019: Project & Science News We are aware of the proposal by the United States House Science Committee to rename LSST the Vera Rubin Survey Telescope. Dr. Vera C. Rubin made significant contributions to astronomy and the advancement of women in science, and we appreciate the Committee’s recognition of her work. AURA, which has a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation to construct and operate LSST, is continuing its ongoing dialog with the agency regarding formal designations for the facility which include any direction from Congress. Just a few days remain to take advantage of early registration pricing for LSST 2019, which ends June 30th. Click here for a link to registration and to view the first draft of the meeting agenda. The LSST Commissioning Camera (ComCam) arrived at the LSST Project Office in Tucson on June 20th, after being shipped from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, where it was constructed. …

11 Junio 2019: Project & Science News LSST released a statement regarding increased deployment of satellite constellations, click here to read it. The statement is based on initial analysis, specifics are still being looked into by the Project and Science Collaborations. Early registration discount pricing for LSST 2019 ends June 30th. Click here for a link to registration and to see the block schedule for the meeting. Following the successful Final Acceptance Test results for the Coating Chamber in late May, the LSST Project approved receipt of the Coating Plant (which includes the Coating Chamber and the Washing Station) from vendor Von Ardenne. Now that this milestone has been achieved, preparations can begin for coating the LSST Secondary Mirror (M2) with silver in mid-July. The LSST Primary/Tertiary Mirror (M1M3) cell, mirror support hardware, and the M1M3 surrogate were loaded aboard a ship named the BBC Newcastle in the port of Houston, TX, and …

29 Mayo 2019: Project & Science News LSST's U.S. public funding agencies, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), have reached a final decision on the way data rights and data access will be handled during LSST Operations. More information is available on the LSST website. Don’t forget to register for the LSST 2019 Project and Community Workshop, August 12-16th at the Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, AZ. Early bird pricing is available until June 30th; register at this link. After several months of joint efforts between the IT and Software teams in Chile, the dome and shutter at the Auxiliary Telescope were remotely controlled for the first time on May 16th. A video of the milestone is available at this link. The IT team in Chile has completed work on the installation of the LSST Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) system at the base and summit, and …

14 Mayo 2019: Project & Science News Mirror, Mirror on the Mountain—the LSST Primary/Tertiary Mirror (M1M3) has arrived at the LSST summit facility building on Cerro Pachón! The ship carrying the M1M3 docked in Coquimbo on May 7th, after which the mirror container was transferred to a 72-wheeled transport vehicle. Over the next few nights it traveled towards the summit, reaching its destination on May 11. More details and a link to photos of the move are available at this link. Registration is now open for the LSST 2019 Project and Community Workshop, which will take place August 12-16th at the Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, AZ. Early bird pricing is available until June 30th; register at this link. Tomorrow, May 15th, is the deadline to submit Letters of Intent (LOIs) for community brokers who will receive LSST alerts, add scientific value, and redistribute them to the scientific community. The original call for …

23 Abril 2019: Project & Science News Please mark your calendars: The LSST 2019 Project and Community Workshop will take place August 12-16 at the Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, AZ. More details will be provided as they are available. The LSST Primary/Tertiary Mirror (M1M3), aboard the BBC Manitoba, is rapidly making its way south to Chile. The ship passed through the Panama Canal on April 15, and after a few stops at ports along the way, it is scheduled to arrive in Coquimbo, Chile, in May. See the ship’s most recent location at this link. The M1M3 cell will soon be following the mirror to Chile; it was wrapped for shipping at vendor CAID Industries in Tucson last week and then loaded onto the 120-foot-long vehicle that will transport it to Houston, Texas. Photos of the cell being loaded on April 18th are available in the LSST Gallery. The final test campaign …

9 Abril 2019: Project & Science News The M1M3 has set sail for Chile! The BBC Manitoba, carrying the LSST Primary/Tertiary Mirror along with some other LSST cargo, left Houston for Chile on April 5th. The trip is expected to take 4-5 weeks—you can follow the vessel’s progress by entering its name in the search bar on this website. Photos of the mirror being loaded onto the ship are available in the LSST Gallery. A reminder: Letters of Intent (LOIs) for teams who plan to propose a community broker are due by May 15, 2019. Community brokers will receive the full LSST alert stream, add scientific value, and provide science users the ability to identify targets of interest and trigger follow-up observations. A month after the LOI deadline, on June 19-21, an invitation-only technical workshop in Seattle, WA, will bring together LSST Project personnel, representatives of the LSST Science Collaborations, and proposers of …

26 Marzo 2019: Project & Science News The updated LSST overview paper, “LSST: From Science Drivers to Reference Design and Anticipated Data Products” was published in the March 11, 2019 issue of The Astrophysical Journal. The paper can be accessed at this link. Over the last few months, the LSST Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has been carefully examining and considering the submitted White Papers on LSST Cadence Optimization, as have Project members. While the SAC is still deliberating and looking into a few specific questions, its report should be available and made public in April. The LSST Primary/Tertiary Mirror (M1M3) arrived successfully in Houston, Texas, on March 21st after leaving the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab in Tucson, Arizona, on March 15th. The mirror is scheduled to ship to Chile from the Port of Houston within a few days, and will take approximately five weeks to reach Coquimbo. Details about the mirror’s departure …

12 Marzo 2019: Project & Science News A Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC) broker workshop took place in Berkeley, CA on February 21 and 22. DESC members met with representatives from the major community alert brokers operating on precursor surveys, to determine whether their envisioned offerings would be suitable for DESC’s needs. DESC’s response to the LSST call for broker Letters of Intent was also discussed. The workshop featured presentations by two LSST Data Management team members; Melissa Graham gave a summary of Prompt Processing and Data Products, and Eric Bellm described the selection of community alert brokers and differences between the LSST and Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) alert streams. Meeting talks are available at this link. Version 17.0 of the LSST Science Pipelines is now available. The latest release from the LSST Data Management team features many improvements, including faster installation times for many users. More information including installation instructions, release notes, …

27 Febrero 2019: Project & Science News As recently announced in the document "Plans and Policies for LSST Alert Distribution," the selection of community alert brokers to receive the full LSST alert stream begins with a call for Letters of Intent (LOI). The call for Letters of Intent and a submission template are now available at this link. Individuals at any institution worldwide are invited to submit four-page LOIs. For full consideration, LOIs should be submitted by May 15, 2019. Submission of an LOI is required in order to be invited to submit a full proposal. If you have questions, email lsst-community-brokers@lists.lsst.org. The Kavli foundation has sponsored a series of AURA-organized workshops on the theme Petabytes to Science, the second of which was held February 12-14, 2019 in Las Vegas, NV. The aim of this workshop was to discuss important trends and technologies for data intensive astronomy, especially with LSST and WFIRST, and …

12 Febrero 2019: Project & Science News The LSST Project is distributed and complex, and understanding the relationships between its participating organizations and affiliates can be challenging. A new diagram, “The LSST Ecosystem,” represents these relationships visually. The diagram can be accessed in the LSST Gallery; we encourage you to use it in presentations and documents when appropriate. The Filter Exchange team in France is making significant progress on the construction of the manual loader and the auto-changer, two important components of the filter exchange system installed on the LSST Camera. This system will accommodate LSST’s six filters, each of which is 30 inches (76 cm) in diameter and weighs about 88 pounds (40 kg). IN2P3 is on track to complete the fabrication of the filter exchange system by the end of the second quarter of 2019. Recent photos of the filter exchange system are available in the LSST Gallery. Coating of the …

29 Enero 2019: Project & Science News After a 35-day partial shutdown, normal U.S. government operations have resumed until at least mid-February. LSST senior management staff will continue to work with AURA and the NSF to keep the Project moving forward and to minimize the effects of future disruptions. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurred in Chile on January 19, affecting the La Serena region. Electricity and communications were interrupted but quickly restored, and inspections by LSST staff revealed no significant damage. Thanks to LSST and Mountain Operations staff in Chile for ensuring the safety of people and equipment during and after the event. Following the 233rd AAS meeting in Seattle, the Project Science Team had a face-to-face meeting on January 10-11. After presentations by Amanda Bauer about updated EPO construction plans and by Lynne Jones about 46 submitted cadence white papers, the PST discussed software coordination across the Project, Project funding contingency levels, …