Rubin Digest 09 February 2021

9 February 2021

Project & Science News

The Rubin Observatory Data Management (DM) team seeks input from the science community regarding which photo-z estimator(s) should be adopted to generate photometric redshifts (photo-z) for the LSST Data Release (DR) Object catalog. As part of DM's photo-z roadmap, which is summarized at this link, all are invited to join one or more of the monthly virtual photo-z drop-in discussions described on community.lsst.org (login required).

The deadline for the Cadence Notes Solicitation Call from the Survey Cadence Optimization Committee (SCOC) has been updated from March 15th to April 15th, 2021. These Cadence Notes will provide feedback on the existing large set of survey cadence simulations to the SCOC. Additional details are available at this link.  

The first observing run of the Rubin Observatory Auxiliary Telescope (AuxTel) since the COVID-19 construction shutdown finished successfully; read details about this run and upcoming plans for AuxTel in this recent news item.

The full team (10 people) from the Telescope Mount Assembly (TMA) contractor UTE/Asturfeito is now working on the summit, and formal daily meetings are being held to coordinate TMA and Dome work. The top-end support piers have been installed on the base ring of the TMA using the dome assembly crane and the interior bridge crane. A 500-ton crane, as well as a 100-ton crane to assemble it and to stage materials, have also arrived on-site in preparation for completing the assembly of the large and heavy parts of the TMA, expected to culminate with the installation of the Top-End Assembly (TEA) during the week of February 22nd. The TEA, now with the M2 Hexapod and surrogate mass incorporated, is in final preparation for installation at the 3rd level of the Summit Facility. Photos of recent progress are available in the Gallery. 

The monthly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) discussion will take place on Thursday, February 11th. More information, including this month’s featured Sphere of Influence and a link to connect to the meeting are available on community.lsst.org (login required). 

Rubin in the Media

Rubin Observatory is featured in one of a series of articles on photon-driven technologies, titled, “From the Universe to the Dataverse,” in the The Economist on January 9th, 2021. Read the article at this link.

Vincent Riot, LSST Camera Project Manager, was recently interviewed on the podcast, Babbage from Economist Radio for an episode called, “Photon Opportunity” which aired on January 20th. Listen to it at this link.

Operations Updates

The Rubin Euclid Derived Data Products Working Group (DDP-WG) invites all Rubin LSST data rights holders to participate in the definition of Rubin-Euclid Derived Data Products. The DDP-WG will facilitate a virtual continuous and asynchronous discussion spread over four to five months (January to May) on a standalone open forum dedicated to the Rubin-Euclid Derived Data Products. This approach ensures that everyone who is interested will have an opportunity to contribute to the discussion. More information can be found on community.lsst.org (login required). 

Personnel Announcements

Open positions with Rubin Observatory are listed on the Rubin hiring website. 

Upcoming Meetings with Rubin Observatory Involvement

(those with asterisk* are LSSTC funded):

2021

May 4-6: AURA Management Council for Rubin (AMCR) Meeting, Virtual