Advancing Discovery Annual Report 2006 Vision A world in which all humankind is inspired and united by the pursuit of knowledge of the infinite variety and richness of the Universe. Mission We advance the frontiers of astronomy and share our discoveries to inspire the imagination of all. Observatory Groundbreaking: 1985 First light Keck I telescope: 1992 First light Keck II telescope: 1996 Headquarters location: Kamuela, Hawai’i, USA Management: California Association for Research in Astronomy Partner Institutions: California Institute of Technology (CIT) University of California (UC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) EIN: 95-3972799 Director: Taft E. Armandroff Number of Full Time Employees: 126 Number of Observing Astronomers FY2006: 1,504 Number of Refereed Articles 2006: 221 Total Number of Keck Science Articles Citation Count: 59,152 For more information contact: Debbie Goodwin, Director of Advancement W. M. Keck Observatory 65-1120 Mamalahoa Highway Kamuela, Hawai’i 96743 808.885.7887 www.keckobservatory.org Cover photo: The world’s largest and most revolutionary telescopes open to a dark sky perfect for observing the cosmos. W. M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2006 | 2 Dr. Taft E. Armandroff Director W. M. Keck Observatory Welcome to the W. M. Keck Observatory’s 2006 Annual Report. Having assumed leadership of this organization on July 1, I have en- “ joyed becoming acquainted with the team we have here at Keck and the important ambitions being accomplished. It is truly a privilege to work with the world’s best ensemble of scientists, technologists, and support personnel in astronomical research. In the pages that follow, you will meet some of the people of Keck and learn more about the enormously productive year that has just passed. There is a great deal that sets the W. M. Keck Observatory apart from veys because they target the first stars that formed in the Uni- other observatories in advancing the frontiers of astronomical discov- verse after it cooled sufficiently from the Big Bang for gas clouds ery. With primary mirrors of 10 meters diameter, we have the two to condense. In these objects, the light will have traveled over largest fully steerable telescopes on Earth. Our premier site on Mauna approximately 95% of the lifetime of the Universe, 13 billion Kea, with a thin, dry, stable atmosphere overhead and almost no im- years, to reach us. Without the generous support of a private pact from light pollution, is an important advantage. Our excellent in- donor, this leading edge instrument would not have been pos- strumentation suite and our laser guide star adaptive optics system are sible. MOSFIRE is funded in an equal partnership with private other key advantages. The Keck Observatory was the first 8-10 meter philanthropy and the National Science Foundation. This unique class facility in the world currently providing this laser guide star adap- public-private partnership is a model for future initiatives. tive optics capability to observers. Keck Adaptive Optics delivers 10 times more resolving power than what could otherwise be achieved We have begun work on the design of a next-generation laser from the ground. The results are producing infrared images from the adaptive optics system which will occupy a premiere role in ground comparable – and often better – than those taken from space. astronomical discovery. This next-generation adaptive optics system will enable unprecedented observations of distant galax- Advanced instrumentation that will take full advantage of the light gath- ies, stars in formation, extrasolar planets, solar system objects, ering power of the Keck telescopes is a key strategic goal of the Obser- and types of objects that we do not even know about yet. vatory and a personal priority of mine. MOSFIRE, a new spectrometer in development, will provide multi-object spectroscopy in the near in- The leadership role that the Keck Observatory plays in astro- frared for 45 stars or galaxies simultaneously over a wide field of view. nomical research demands that we push the capabilities of these This is a new and enabling capability for the Keck community because great telescopes through the continued improvement of the in- we are currently doing such work one object at a time, sometimes frastructure, instrumentation and empowerment of our staff of using almost an entire night on a single distant galaxy. Perhaps most scientists, engineers and support personnel. We can only do exciting among the scientific applications of MOSFIRE are searches for this with the support of those who share our passion for discov- extremely distant galaxies. These searches are called “first light” sur- ery and who will continue to encourage us to excel. ” The sunset shines its golden glow upon one of Keck’s domes. W. M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2006 | 3 Contents 3 Letter from the Director 5 Governance 6 Science Community 6 People of Keck 9 Science Bibliography and Publications 17 Operations Highlights Development Highlights 18 Awe inspiring beauty of Mauna Kea. 20 Research Highlights 21 The Public Dividend 25 Human Resources 25 Advancement 27 Financials Waiting for their ride down the mountain, members of the Keck summit crew discuss the day’s accomplishments. W. M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2006 | 4 Governance The observatory is managed by the California Association for Research in Shrivinas Kulkarni, California Institute of Technology, Michael Bolte, Univer- Astronomy (CARA), a non-profit 501(c)( 3) corporation formed for the sity of California Observatories/Lick Observatory, Thomas Tombrello, Cali- purpose of conducting astronomical research. The corporation’s board of fornia Institute of Technology. In addition, NASA and the Keck Foundation directors includes representatives from the California Institute of Technol- each have liaisons to the board: Stephen Ridgway, NASA liaison, Julian von ogy (Caltech) and the University of California (UC). Representatives from Kalinowski, Keck Foundation liaison. the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the W. M. Keck Foundation serve as liaisons to the Board. In this photo, seated left to right: Margarita Scheffel, Chief Financial Officer, Taft Armandroff, Observatory Director, Edward Stone, Board Chair, France In 2006 C. Judson King of the University of California retired as Chair after Cordova, Board Vice-Chair, Hilton Lewis, Deputy Director. Standing left 5 years of service on the Board. Founding Observatory Board member to right: Tom Soifer, Science Steering Committee Co-Chair, Ian McLean, Edward Stone of the California Institute of Technology succeeded King as Science Steering Committee Co-Chair, Shrivinas Kulkarni, Board member, Chair and Chancellor France A. Cordova from the University of California at Elaine Stamman, Board secretary, Alphonso Diaz, Board member, Thomas Riverside was appointed Vice Chair through June of 2009. The other mem- Tombrello, Board member, Michael Bolte, Board member. bers of the Board are Alphonso V. Diaz, University of California, Riverside, The revolutionary twin Keck telescopes are the most powerful tools to study the Keck Milestones cosmos. The milestones below represent the Observatory’s commitment to being first and foremost in the rapidly evolving technical field of astronomical research. September 12, 1985 Groundblessing, W.M. Keck Observatory - summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii May 25, 1988 Groundblessing, W.M. Keck Observatory headquarters - Kamuela, Hawaii November 24, 1990 First light, Keck 1 Telescope - 9 segments installed November 7, 1991 Dedication of Keck 1 Telescope and Keck 2 groundblessing April 14, 1992 First light, Keck 1 Telescope - 36 segments installed January 23, 1996 First light, Keck 2 Telescope - 24 segments installed May 8, 1996 Dedication of Keck 2 Telescope September 30, 1996 Gerald Smith retires as W.M. Keck Observatory Project Manager October 1, 1996 Dr. Frederic H. Chaffee assumes position as first Observatory Director February 5, 1999 First light - Adaptive optics instrument on Keck 2 telescope December 13, 2000 First light - Adaptive optics instrument on Keck 1 telescope January 12, 2001 Interferometer - Corrected Keck 2 wavefront reaches the basement March 13, 2001 Interferometer - First fringes with the Keck telescopes December 23, 2001 First laser guide star over Mauna Kea created with the Keck 2 sodium laser June 3, 2002 First light DEIMOS instrument (DEep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph) September 9, 2003 First light for the AO LGS system (Adaptive Optics Laser Guide Star) February 22, 2005 First light OSIRIS instrument (OH-Suppressing Infra-Red Imaging Spectrograph) June 30, 2006 Dr. Frederic H. Chaffee retires as Observatory Director July 1, 2006 Dr. Taft Amandroff begins appointment as Observatory Director October 6, 2006 First light - NGWFC (Next Generation Wavefront Controller) W. M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2006 | 5 Science Community Observing time on the Keck telescopes is shared among its partner institu- The voice of the user community is the Science Steering Committee, com- tions, Caltech, UC, NASA, and the University of Hawai’i. In 2006, the prised of 12 astronomers, which meets regularly to develop and commu- Observatory also provided observing time to other astronomy communi- nicate the priorities and concerns of the Keck science community to Ob- ties: the Telescope System Instrumentation Program funded by the Na- servatory staff. The Co-chairs of the Science Steering Committee in 2006 tional Science Foundation, the were Tom Soifer,