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W.M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2009

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W.M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2009 W.M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2009 aannual_report_2009.inddnnual_report_2009.indd 1 66/9/2010/9/2010 111:52:481:52:48 AAMM COVER: University of Hawai‘i photographer R. David Beales won Best in Show at the University Photographers Association of America, or UPAA, competition for his VISION December 2009 image, “Mauna Kea Summit,” showing A worldldd in whichw h all humankindhumanki is inspired and the W. M. Keck Observatory’s laser piercing the Hawaiian unitedun by the pursupursuituitit off knowkknowledge of the infi nite night sky. varietyarriety andannd rririchnessichnesc s of theh Universe. INSIDE COVER: Visiting astronomers in the remote operations facility at Waimea headquarters discuss details of their observing run. 3: Award winning architecture of Keck headquarters framed by early evening light and the pastoral beauty of MISSION Waimea. To advance the frontiers of astronomy and share our discoveries, inspiring 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/Caltech), Contents University of California (UC), 3 The Director’s Report National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 5 What Sets Keck Apart Observatory Director: Taft E. Armandroff 7 Discoveries 12 Finances Deputy Director: Hilton A. Lewis 17 The People of Keck FY2009 24 Education and Outreach Number of Full Time Employees: 117 Number of Observing Astronomers: 469 28 Science Bibliography Number of Keck Science Investigations: 405 Number of Refereed Articles: 260 Fiscal Year begins October 1 W.M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2009 –2– aannual_report_2009.inddnnual_report_2009.indd 2 66/9/2010/9/2010 111:52:551:52:55 AAMM An Amazing Year of Discoveries THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Dr. Taft E. Armandroff “ he year 2009 was the International Year of Astronomy, biologically or geologically active, fi nding variations in the commemorating two major astronomical achievements concentration of this organic molecule over both time and that took place 400 years ago: Galileo Galilei fi rst turned location. Mumma and his team continue to apply the Keck his simple refracting telescope toward the heavens, and telescopes, particularly our world leading adaptive optics in that same year Johannes Kepler published his book, system and NIRSPEC, a near-infrared echelle spectrograph, Astronomia Nova, describing the fi rst two laws of planetary to more precisely map these methane emissions and guide motion. further research to determine their source. How inspiring to consider what we have learned about the Another highlight of the year occurred in June 2009 when Universe since 1609 when the moons of Jupiter and the laws the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (LRIS), one of physics came into focus. And how humbling to realize of Keck’s fi rst instruments and still our most popular and how many fundamental questions about the cosmos remain productive one, completed a major upgrade to its capabilities. to be answered through the science of astronomy. LRIS is a double spectrograph that obtains data in the red and blue regions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously. It is the W.M. Keck Observatory’s role to answer these The entire red-side detector, electronics, and software were questions and over the past year we celebrated major replaced with state-of-the-art technology. milestones in both astronomical exploration and technology initiatives. It is my privilege to serve as the Director of the The red region upgrade has made LRIS the most sensitive Keck Observatory and to introduce the chronicling of these optical spectrograph in the world. With greater sensitivity achievements in the pages that follow. and lower noise, the instrument now gives Keck astronomers the capability to work on scientifi c problems that were One of the highlights of 2009 took place in January when a previously impossible and surpass observations that we could team of astronomers led by NASA’s Mike Mumma reported undertake before. Astronomers can observe more targets the fi rst defi nitive detection of methane in the atmosphere per night and yield more statistically robust results. Private of Mars. Described in detail in the Discoveries section of philanthropy was essential in realizing the success of the the Report, their research indicates the Red Planet is either LRIS upgrade project. –3– aannual_report_2009.inddnnual_report_2009.indd 3 66/9/2010/9/2010 111:53:151:53:15 AAMM OverOver the pastpaast yearyear,, Keckk ObsObservatorybse made great progress ABOVE: Observatory on twoo otherer multi-yearmultti-year instruminstrumentationi initiatives: Director Taft MOSFIRE,MOSFM FIRE, thethhe MultiMulltiti Object ObObjbject SpectrographSp for Infrared Armandroff and Deputy Director EExplorationxploratationion andan the next gegenerationeneratio Laser Guide Star Hilton Lewis. AdaptiveAdaptivAdA ve OpticsOpticcs (LGSGS AO) AOO) system for the Keck I telescope. Bothotthh MOSMOSFIREOSFIRFIRRE and thet new LLGS AO system are scheduled BELOW: A rare aerial foro integraintegrationation anandnd ccomcommissioningmmiss in fi scal 2010 and are view of majestic eagerlygerrlyly aantanticipatednticipatted by oour science community. Mauna Kea and the Observatories. In tthisis AnnuAnnualual RepReport you will meet some of the highly trained and dedicadedicated staff members responsible for maintaining and operating the Keck telescopes as well as deploying these technological innovations. Alongside these and other Keck professionals you will also be introduced to leaders from our astronomy community who are contributing by developing new instrumentation or participating in Observatory governance. And you will learn how in the International Year of Astronomy we continued the trend of increasing both the new science enabled is dramatic and the results published quality and quantity of our education and outreach activities over the past fi scal year by Keck’s astronomers are also and growing the number of our philanthropic supporters. quantifi ed in the Report. We are encouraged by the signifi cant interest in and support of our work by the public. In its short history, the twin ten-meter Keck telescopes have pushed Galileo’s fi rst concepts of astronomy to the Modern astronomy is a highly competitive and constantly extreme and brought the beauty, complexities and mysteries changing fi eld, and Keck Observatory continues to be of the cosmos within reach. As an organization we are honed as a powerful discovery machine with additions to proud of what we have accomplished not only in cutting- our telescope instrumentation and enhancements to our edge discoveries but also in training and inspiring the next adaptive optics systems. These technological enhancements generation of explorers. I thank our professional staff, our are complex and require signifi cant resources to design governing board and advisors, our philanthropic supporters, and build. As a private-public partnership, we rely on and our volunteers for all their contributions and for their “ grants from federal agencies and gifts from individuals and steadfast commitment to our continued leadership in this foundations to fund these pathfi nding developments. The amazing scientifi c enterprise. W.M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2009 –4– aannual_report_2009.inddnnual_report_2009.indd 4 66/9/2010/9/2010 111:53:201:53:20 AAMM Welcome to the cutting edge of tomorrow… The twin 10-meter Keck Telescopes are the leading optical/infrared telescopes in the world and are dedicated to astronomical research 365 days/nights per year. Observing time on the Keck telescopes is highly prized and is divided each year among its partner institutions: the California Institute of Technology, the University of California and NASA, as well as the University of Hawai’i. The broader astronomical community has access to the telescopes through partnerships with the National Science Foundation and NASA. Recognized as the most scientifi cally productive observatory in history, Keck Observatory has contributed to all areas of astronomy and astrophysics. Keck’s legacy of exploration includes the discovery of exoplanets; the study of how planets, stars and galaxies form; the nature of black holes; and the chemical composition and evolution of the Universe. Beyond offering the largest light collection mirrors on the planet, the Keck telescopes host a complete suite of nine state-of-the-art observing instruments to collect and analyze astronomical data with unprecedented power and precision. Keck is a world leader in the fi eld of adaptive optics, a breakthrough technology that removes the distortions caused by the turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere and provides image clarity of cosmic targets that rivals those of the Hubble Space Telescope. Made possible by grants from the W. M. Keck Foundation, the Observatory today is a private 501(c)3 non-profi t organization and depends upon competitive grants and philanthropy to sustain its frontier research capabilities. W.M. Keck Observatory Annual Report 2009 –5– aannual_report_2009.inddnnual_report_2009.indd 5 66/9/2010/9/2010 111:53:411:53:41 AAMM Cosmic Vision W. M. Keck Observatory Keck Observatory Advancement Keck Observatory Science Board of Directors Advisory Council Steering Committee George Blumenthal, Chair Sanford Robertson, Chair, Jean Brodie, Co-Chair Edward Stolper, Vice-Chair and Jeanne Robertson Chris Martin,
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