NATIONAL OPTICAL ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY
QUARTERLY REPORT (2) FY 2008 January 1–March 31, 2008
High Fire casting of the LSST primary/tertiary mirror, 28–29 March 2008, in the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab.
Photo by Dave Harvey, courtesy of LSST Corp.
Submitted to the National Science Foundation Pursuant to Scientific Program Order No. 1, Article 5-C Cooperative Agreement No. AST-0132798, Article VI
Also published on the NOAO Web site: http://www.noao.edu
NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation
National Optical Astronomy Observatory Quarterly Report (2) FY 2008 (January 1, 2008 – March 31, 2008)
Submitted to the National Science Foundation Pursuant to Cooperative Agreement No. AST-0132798 April 30, 2008
Contents
1 NOAO DIVISIONS...... 1 1.1 Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) ...... 1 1.2 Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO)...... 1 1.3 NOAO Gemini Science Center (NGSC) ...... 3 1.4 System Division ...... 4 1.4.1 System Development...... 4 1.4.2 System Instrumentation ...... 21 1.4.3 Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope Program Office (GSMTPO).....21 1.4.4 Data Products Program...... 22
2 NOAO-WIDE PROGRAMS ...... 24 2.1 Large-Aperture Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)...... 24 2.2 Public Affairs and Educational Outreach (PAEO) ...... 24 2.3 Administration and Infrastructure ...... 26 2.3.1 Tucson and Kitt Peak Site Safety Report ...... 26 2.3.2 NOAO Director’s Office ...... 27 2.3.3 Central Administration Services (CAS) ...... 28 2.3.4 Central Facilities Operations (CFO)...... 28 2.3.5 Computer Infrastructure Support (CIS)...... 29
3 SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM ORDERS AND AMENDMENTS ...... 31 3.1 SPO #3 AST-0243875 KPNO Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) ...... 31 3.2 SPO #5 AST-0335461 Telescope System Instrumentation Program (TSIP)...... 31 3.3 SPO #6 AST-0336888 Adaptive Optics Development Program ...... 31 3.4 SPO #7 AST-0432601 Support for Conferences, Symposia, Workshops and Other Meetings ...... 32
i 3.5 SPO #9 AST-0551161 Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Project...... 32 3.6 SPO #10 AST-0443999 Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope Project ...... 32 3.7 SPO #11 AST-0647604 CTIO Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)...... 34
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1 NOAO DIVISIONS
1.1 CERRO TOLOLO INTER-AMERICAN OBSERVATORY (CTIO)
Program Highlights The NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates program at CTIO ran through this period. Six students were accommodated this year along with two Chilean students from the parallel CTIO-funded Prácticas de Investigacion en Astronomía program. The activities culminated with each student presenting their research projects to Gemini and CTIO scientific staffs; all presentations were of very high quality. The students will prepare posters and present their projects at the winter AAS meeting. Mountain telescope support was enhanced by the employment of an electronic technician, with primary workplace at SOAR, and an electrical technician, with primary workplace on Cerro Tololo. An additional large-telescope operator was employed, and two new Blanco operators started employment to replace long-term operators who retired during this report period.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Commission the Goodman spectrograph and the Spartan IR imager on SOAR, and commence science operations with these instruments. Status: The single-slit mode of the Goodman spectrograph has been successfully commissioned, with the instrument being offered in shared-risk mode in semester 2008B.
1.2 KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY (KPNO)
Program Highlights
1 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
Using optical data from the KPNO 2.1-m and the WIYN 0.9-m telescopes and mid-infrared observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope, researchers led by NOAO astronomer Steve Howell and including a teacher involved in the joint Spitzer/NOAO Research Based Science Education Program presented results at the January 2008 AAS meeting that have led to a revision of our understanding of the accretion disk around the binary star system WZ Sge. The revised concept for the structure of the disk (on the right above, compared to the original concept on the left) includes an outer disk of dark matter asymmetrically distributed in the system. Details on the results are available at www.noao.edu/outreach/press/pr08/pr0802.html.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Complete the commissioning of WHIRC for the WIYN 3.5-m telescope, including the use of the WIYN Tip-Tilt Module (WTTM) with the instrument. Status: KPNO assisted the STScI WHIRC instrument team and the WIYN Observatory staff in diagnosing and solving the cause of noise in the controller electronics of WHIRC, improving the performance of the instrument and enabling the first visitor science observing runs to proceed. We are on schedule for completing the commissioning and acceptance of the instrument during FY08. • Complete the upgrade of the bench spectrograph for the WIYN 3.5-m telescope. Status: A new CCD, STA1, run with a Monsoon controller and a new user interface was deployed to WIYN. This is a significant subcomponent of the Bench spectrograph upgrade. • Complete the search for a new director of the WIYN Observatory with an anticipated start date of October 2008. Status: From a strong list of candidates, the short-list candidates were identified and will be interviewed next quarter. The time-line for hiring a new director still seems achievable. • Begin work on a five-year program of modernizing the infrastructure provided by Kitt Peak to all the observatories on Kitt Peak. Status: The new suite of site monitoring instruments is nearing completion. The new Kitt Peak All Sky Camera (KASCA) (below left;, camera image, below right) was deployed and put in operation. A new DIMM will be deployed next quarter.
2 NOAO DIVISIONS
1.3 NOAO GEMINI SCIENCE CENTER (NGSC)
Program Highlights In this quarter, the situation concerning the status of the U.K. as a Gemini partner until the end of the current operating agreement (31 December 2012) seemed to be resolved. The U.K. will remain as a partner, but may offer to sell some fraction of its observing time, or its partnership share, to other partners. If the other partners are not interested, the offer could possibly be extended to outside parties. NGSC/NOAO kept the U.S. community informed of these events as they took place through the NOAO and NGSC Web sites, the Currents electronic newsletter, and the NOAO/NSO Newsletter. To assess U.S. interest in acquiring a larger share of the Gemini time, we are soliciting broad community input via planned electronic surveys. Additionally, a committee is being formed to address the U.S. community needs on 6.5–10-m-class telescope access. The committee’s report will be issued before the end of 2008. Plans got underway for NOAO to jointly sponsor a workshop on WFMOS science (“Cosmology Near and Far with WFMOS”) to be held in Hawai’i in May 2008. The workshop will involve Gemini, Subaru (and the Japanese community), the U.K., and Australia. NGSC is helping to organize the program.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Provide support for at least five visits per semester to each of the Gemini sites by NGSC astronomers and scientists to observe and get instrument training and familiarization. Increase the presence of NGSC staff at the Gemini North base facility via extended stays in order to foster closer ties between NGSC and Gemini-N staff. Status: NGSC is exceeding this goal with a current estimate of seven visits to Gemini North (with particular interest in the LGS system) and six visits to Gemini South. • Within the structure of the next Cooperative Agreement, work on defining the future role of the Gemini facilities within the U.S. system of ground-based observing capabilities. Help organize a community-based committee to solicit input and provide a synthesis of community aspirations for the use of the Gemini telescopes. Status: NGSC will help liaison with a committee that is being formed to solicit input from the U.S. community to define their needs, aspirations, and capabilities on large telescopes (6.5–10 m); Gemini access will be one of the major topics addressed by this committee. • Provide advice and expertise to the Gemini Observatory in support of the deployment of NOAO’s Phoenix spectrograph on Gemini-South until it is removed from this telescope sometime in 2008. Status: NGSC staff member K. Hinkle oversaw Phoenix maintenance in March 2008 (replacement of cold heads) and then supported a Phoenix classical run by a U.S. observer on Gemini-S. At this time, it may be quite likely that Phoenix will remain on Gemini-S for semester 2009A.
3 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
1.4 SYSTEM DIVISION
Discussions aimed at the evolution of the programs in this division toward a system-wide viewpoint have continued. Engagement of the staff—through working groups as well as involvement in discussions about future activities—has led to a better understanding of NOAO’s role and its interactions with the community. 1.4.1 System Development
Program Highlights The process of developing a plan for building the ground-based O/IR system continues. Following the recommendations of the ReSTAR committee and ongoing discussions with a number of non- federal observatories that would like to participate, a strawman plan was developed that would, over a seven-year period, provide significant improvement in the capabilities on small and mid-sized telescopes, in accordance with the specific community desires expressed in the ReSTAR report. The 2008B NOAO Telescope Allocation panels have been recruited, including one solar system, three galactic, and three extragalactic panels. The documentation relative to the TAC has been updated for the current observing semester.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Following the conclusion of the ReSTAR committee activity and the delivery of their report, develop a plan for the creation and the evolution of a robust system of U.S. ground-based O/IR facilities. Work with the NSF and with operators of private telescopes to begin to implement this plan. Status: A white paper that develops a set of priorities based on the ReSTAR recommendations and a strawman implementation plan was submitted to NSF/AST in February. • Organize and carry out a community-based committee effort similar to ReSTAR, but aimed at understanding community needs for large telescopes. Like ReSTAR, the goal is to solicit broad community input in order to produce a science-motivated list of prioritized capabilities. Status: Larry Ramsey (Pennsylvania State University) has agreed to chair this new committee. A list of potential committee members has been approved by NSF/AST personnel. • Place call for TSIP proposals for FY08. Status: Due to a reduction in the FY08 budget vs. plan, there will be no call in FY08 as TSIP pays down current commitments.
Usage of Archived Data The first two tables below illustrate access to and usage of reduced data in the NOAO Science Archive (R2) from NOAO Survey programs. The table on the left shows the data download volume in gigabytes, the number of files retrieved and the number of unique visitors (for that month) who downloaded archive data through the ftp site. The table on the right shows the Web activity logged
4 NOAO DIVISIONS
from the NOAO Science Archive Web site. It includes users (visitors) collecting additional information before or after downloading data, as well as visualization of the data online.
Archive Data Retrieval Activity (ftp site) NOAO Science Archive Web Site Activity Retrieved Files Unique Bandwidth Pages Unique Date (GB) Retrieved Visitors Date (GB) Viewed Visitors Jan-08 53.56 464 20 Jan-08 38.23 13,353 943 Feb-08 428.65 7,118 47 Feb-08 25.65 13,894 1,198 Mar-08 57.11 1,422 40 Mar-08 176.70 23,304 1,066 Total: 539.32 9,004 107 Total: 240.58 50,551 3,207
The NOAO SkyNode provides access to catalogs and is complementary to the NOAO Science Archive, which provides access to images. SkyNode receives a simple SQL query and passes it to a backend database engine. The result is then passed back through the Web server. The most important number in the table below is “unique visitors.”
Tucson NOAO SkyNode Bandwidth Pages Unique Date (MB) Viewed Visitors Jan-08 8.49 1880 79 Feb-08 13.04 3136 114 Mar-08 12.89 3048 88 Total: 34.42 8064 281
Semester 2008A Telescope Observing Programs
+ Gemini Telescopes—2008A—Scheduled NGSC Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
M. Agueros (Columbia U.), S. Anderson (U. of Washington), B. Margon (UC Santa Cruz), B. Posselt GEM-NQ 0.1 (Observatoire de Strasbourg, France), W. Voges (Max-Planck Institute fur extraterrestrische Physik): “Deep Imaging of a Candidate Isolated Neutron Star” T. Beers, US Lead Scientist for T. Beers (Michigan State U.), J. Norris (Austalian National U.), C. GEM-K 2 Allende Prieto (U. Texas), W. Aoki (National Astronomical Observatory, Japan), M. Asplund (Max Planck Institute fur Astrophysik), M. Bessell (Australian National University), N. Christlieb (Uppsala U.), A. Frebel (U. Texas), J. Johnson (Ohio State U.), J. Melendez (Australian National U.), C. Sneden (U. Texas), D. Yong (Australian National University): “A dedicated northern search for the first stars”
+ Abbreviations and symbols: GEM-NQ = Gemini N Queue; GEM-SQ = Gemini S Queue; GEM-N = Gemini N classical; GEM-S = Gemini S classical; GEM-K = Gemini/Keck time exchange; GEM-Su = Gemini/Subaru time exchange; * = poor weather program; (T) = Thesis student; (G) = Graduate student; (U) = Undergraduate; (O) = Other
5 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
+ Gemini Telescopes—2008A—Scheduled NGSC Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
T. Beers, US Lead Scientist for T. Dall, K. Labrie, A. Nitta (Gemini Observatory), T. Beers (Michigan GEM-NQ 4 State U.), C. Allende Prieto, L. Koesterke (U. of Texas, Austin), H. Bruntt, L. Kiss (U. of Sydney), T. Arentoft (University of Aarhus), P. Amado (Instituto Astrofisco de Andalucia), M. Baes (Universiteit Gent), E. Depagne (Las Cumbres Observatory), M. Fernandez (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia), C. Foellmi (University of Grenoble), V. Ivanov, G. Lo Curto, L. Monaco, K. O’Brien, J. Pritchard (ESO), L. Sarro (Universidad Complutense Madrid), I. Saviane, J. Scharwaechter, L. Schmidtobreick, O. Schuetz (ESO), A. Seifahrt (AIU), F. Selman (ESO), M. Stefanon (Universitat de Valencia), M. Sterzik (ESO): “VSOP: Fixing the Variable Sky with One-Shot Typing of Neglected Variables” T. Beers, US Lead Scientist for T. Dall, K. Labrie, A. Nitta (Gemini Observatory), T. Beers (Michigan GEM-SQ 9 State U.), C. Allende Prieto, L. Koesterke (U. of Texas, Austin), H. Bruntt, L. Kiss (U. of Sydney), T. Arentoft (University of Aarhus), P. Amado (Instituto Astrofisco de Andalucia), M. Baes (Universiteit Gent), E. Depagne (Las Cumbres Observatory), M. Fernandez (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia), C. Foellmi (University of Grenoble), V. Ivanov, G. Lo Curto, L. Monaco, K. O’Brien, J. Pritchard (ESO), L. Sarro (Universidad Complutense Madrid), I. Saviane, J. Scharwaechter, L. Schmidtobreick, O. Schuetz (ESO), A. Seifahrt (AIU), F. Selman (ESO), M. Stefanon (Universitat de Valencia), M. Sterzik (ESO): “VSOP: Fixing the Variable Sky with One-Shot Typing of Neglected Variables” J. Bloom (UC Berkeley), H. Chen (U. of Chicago), J. Prochaska (UC Santa Cruz), K. Glazebrook GEM-NQ 1.2 (Swinburne U.), S. Lopez (Universidad de Chile), R. Foley (UC Berkeley), M. Pettini (University of Cambridge), P. Hall (York University), A. Bunker (University of Exeter), D. Perley, M. Modjaz, D. Poznanski (UC Berkeley), C. Bailyn, B. Cobb (Yale U.), D. York (U. of Chicago), E. Ramirez-Ruiz (UC Santa Cruz), D. Kocevski, N. Butler (UC Berkeley): “Rapid Spectroscopy and Imaging Follow- up of Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows (Gemini North)” J. Bloom (UC Berkeley), H. Chen (U. of Chicago), J. Prochaska (UC Santa Cruz), K. Glazebrook GEM-SQ 0.2 (Swinburne U.), S. Lopez (Universidad de Chile), R. Foley (UC Berkeley), M. Pettini (University of Cambridge), P. Hall (York University), A. Bunker (University of Exeter), D. Perley, M. Modjaz, D. Poznanski (UC Berkeley), C. Bailyn, B. Cobb (Yale U.), D. York (U. of Chicago), E. Ramirez-Ruiz (UC Santa Cruz), D. Kocevski, N. Butler (UC Berkeley): “Rapid Spectroscopy and Imaging Follow- up of Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows (Gemini South)” C. Bridge, H. Teplitz (SSC), B. Siana (CalTech-JPL), J. Colbert (SSC): “Determining Escape Fractions GEM-NQ 2.6 in Lyman Break Galaxy Analogs at Intermediate Redshifts” M. Brodwin (NOAO), A. Gonzalez (U. of Florida), P. Eisenhardt (CalTech-JPL), A. Stanford (UC GEM-NQ 2 Davis), D. Stern (CalTech-JPL), C. Kochanek (Ohio State U.), R. Cool (G) (University of Arizona), J. Song (U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), A. Dey, B. Jannuzi (NOAO): “Galaxy Cluster Velocity Dispersions for a Complete Sample of Massive Clusters at 0 < z < 1.5” M. Brown (California Institute of Technology), C. Trujillo (Gemini Observatory), D. Ragazzine GEM-NQ 0.53 (California Institute of Technology): “The Formation and Evolution of a Collisional System in the Kuiper Belt” R. Chandar (U. of Toledo), P. Goudfrooij (STScI), B. Miller (Gemini Observatory), K. Olsen (CTIO), GEM-NQ 3 T. Puzia (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), A. Seth (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), B. Whitmore (STScI): “Lamp Posts in the Dark: Globular Clusters as Tracers of the Halo in M101” D. Clowe (Ohio U.), A. Gonzalez (U. of Florida), M. Markevitch (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for GEM-Su 1 Astrophysics), D. Zaritsky (University of Arizona): “Beyond the Bullet: Direct Detection of Dark Matter in Merging Galaxy Clusters”
6 NOAO DIVISIONS
+ Gemini Telescopes—2008A—Scheduled NGSC Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
J. Cook, C. Olkin, L. Young (Southwest Research Institute): “Searching for Gaseous CO in Pluto’s GEM-SQ 2 Atmosphere” J. Cook, C. Olkin (Southwest Research Institute), A. Verbiscer (U. of Virginia), R. Mastrapa (SETI GEM-NQ 0.27 Institute/NASA Ames Research Center): “Measuring N2 Ice on Charon” K. Cunha, V. Smith (CTIO), G. Doppmann (NOAO): “Chemical Enrichment History of the Galaxy: GEM-SQ 3 Probing Abundance Gradients in the Inner Bulge” K. Cunha, V. Smith (CTIO), S. Majewski, R. Munoz (G) (U. of Virginia): “Characterizing GEM-SQ 1.6 Abundances Patterns in Low Metallicity Red-Giants of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy” R. Curran (Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies), A. Chrysostomou (UKIRT), E. Whelan, T. Ray GEM-S 2 (Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies), F. Bacciotti, D. Coffey (Osservatorio Astrosico di Arcetri), P. Garcia (Universidade do Porto): “A New Way of Establishing YSO Disk Rotation: Spectroastrometry of the CO Bandhead” K. Davidson (U. of Minnesota), J. Martin (University of Illinois, Springfield), R. Humphreys (U. of GEM-SQ 0.5 Minnesota), F. Hamann (U. of Florida), G. Ferland (U. of Kentucky), K. Ishibashi (Northwest Research Associates, Inc.): “Eta Carinae’s Continuing Instability and Recovery—The 2009 ‘Event’” D. de Mello, US Lead Scientist for C. Oliveira (IAGUSP), D. de Mello (G) (NASA Goddard Space GEM-SQ 0.32 Flight Center), K. Freeman (Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics), O. Gerhard (G) (Max- Planck-Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik), M. Arnaboldi (ESO), S. Torres Flores (IAGUSP): “Stars Outside Galaxies: A Census of Intergalactic HII Regions in the Tidal Debris of Mergers” R. de Propris (CTIO), W. Couch, A. Butler (G) (Swinburne U.), M. Pracy (MSSSO), C. Harrison GEM-NQ 3 (CTIO): “The Masses of ‘Butcher-Oemler’ Galaxies: Dwarfs or Giants?” G. Duchene (UC Berkeley), T. Beck (Gemini Observatory), N. Grosso (Observatoire de Strasbourg, GEM-NQ 0.43 France), C. McCabe (CalTech-JPL), F. Menard (LAOG), C. Pinte (University of Exeter): “Water Ice Self-absorption in Three Ophiuchus Edge-on Disks” J. Eisner (UC Berkeley), J. Monnier, C. Espaillat (G), N. Calvet (U. of Michigan): “Resolving Large GEM-SQ 2.5 Inner Disk Clearings with TReCS” R. Finn (Siena College), G. Rudnick (NOAO), V. Desai (California Institute of Technology), D. GEM-SQ 2.09 Zaritsky (University of Arizona), B. Poggianti (Universita degli Studi di Padova), B. Milvang-Jensen (University of Copenhagen): “GMOS Spectroscopy of Cluster Galaxies 24 (Micron) Sources” M. Fitzgerald (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), P. Kalas, J. Graham (UC Berkeley): GEM-NQ 0.6 “Beyond SEDs—Measuring the Size and Morphology of Mid-IR Emission in Nearby Debris Disks” GEM-SQ 1.4 R. Foley (G), G. Bower, S. Croft (UC Berkeley): “Optical Identification of Radio Transients GEM-NQ 2.2 Discovered by the Allen Telescope Array” H. Ford, L. Bradley (Johns Hopkins U.), T. Broadhurst (Tel Aviv University), M. Postman (STScI), J. GEM-NQ 1 Jee, A. van der Wel (Johns Hopkins U.): “Spectroscopy of an Exceptionally Bright Candidate Galaxy at z~6 in Abell 1703” A. Gal-Yam (Weismann Institute of Science), D. Leonard (San Diego State U.), D. Fox (Pennsylvania GEM-NQ 0.1 State U.): “Identifying Progenitors of Core-Collapse Supernovae” K. Gebhardt, US Lead Scientist for T. Bridges (Queen’s University), M. Beasley (Instituto de GEM-NQ 0.57 Astrofisica de Canarias), F. Faifer (U. Nacional de la Plata), D. Forbes (Swinburne U.), J. Forte (U. Nacional de la Plata), K. Gebhardt (U. of Texas, Austin), D. Hanes (Queen’s University), M. Norris, R. Sharples (University of Durham), S. Zepf (Michigan State U.): “Globular Clusters as Probes of Galaxy Formation: NGC 4649”
7 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
+ Gemini Telescopes—2008A—Scheduled NGSC Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
J. Graham, US Lead Scientist for J. Patience (University of Exeter), J. Graham (UC Berkeley), B. GEM-NQ 0.6 Macintosh (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), I. Song (IPAC), C. Marois (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), R. Doyon (University of Montreal), D. Johnstone (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), M. Bessell (Australian National U.): “Resolving the A Star Binary Population with Gemini AO” J. Hennawi (UC Berkeley), M. Gladders (U. of Chicago), P. Natarajan (Yale U.), M. Oguri (Stanford GEM-NQ 3.3 U.), B. Koester (U. of Chicago), H. Dahle (University of Oslo): “GMOS Spectroscopy of Giant Arcs Behind the Strongest Lenses in the Universe” B. Hrivnak (Valparaiso U.), K. Volk (Gemini Observatory), S. Kwok (HKU): “Spatially-Resolved GEM-SQ 0.35 Spectroscopy of the 21 Micron Emission Feature in Proto-Planetary Nebulae” B. Hrivnak (Valparaiso U.), N. Smith (UC Berkeley), K. Volk (Gemini Observatory): “The Shaping GEM-SQ 0.6 of Planetary Nebulae: H2 Kinematic Study of 4 Spatially-Resolved Proto-PN” R. Hynes, K. Pearson, Y. Jung (G) (Louisiana State U.): “The Mass of the Neutron Star in UY GEM-SQ 1.35 Vol=EXO 0748-676” N. Indriolo (G), B. McCall (U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), L. Hobbs (U. of Chicago), K. Hinkle GEM-SQ 0.25 (NOAO): “Metastable Helium as a Probe of the Cosmic-Ray Ionization Rate” C. Johns-Krull (Rice U.), L. Prato (Lowell Observatory), M. Huerta (U. of Florida), P. Hartigan (Rice GEM-SQ 1.2 U.), D. Jaffe (U. of Texas, Austin): “A Young Exoplanet: Candidate to Detection” A. Jordan, US Lead Scientist for E. Peng (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), D. McLaughlin (Keele GEM-SQ 1.15 University), A. Jordan (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), G. Trancho (Gemini Observatory), M. Takamiya (U. of Hawaii), J. Blakeslee, P. Cote (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), R. Chandar (U. of Toledo), L. Ferrarese (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), P. Goudfrooij (STScI), M. Kissler-Patig (ESO), S. Mei (Observatoire de Paris), T. Puzia (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), M. West (ESO): “The Dark Matter Content of Early-Type Galaxies in the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey” A. Jordan, US Lead Scientist for E. Peng, T. Puzia (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), A. Jordan GEM-SQ 0.4 (ESO), P. Cote, L. Ferrarese (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics): “Environment and the Formation of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies: A Unified Study of Field Stars, Stellar Nuclei and Globular Clusters” M. Lacy (SSC), E. Stanway (University of Bristol), K. Chiu, L. Douglas, L. Eyles (University of GEM-NQ 0.9 Exeter), A. Bunker (Anglo-Australian Observatory): “Redshifts for Spitzer-Detected Galaxies at z~6—Old Stars in the First Gyr” M. Lacy (SSC), E. Stanway (University of Bristol), K. Chiu (University of Exeter), L. Douglas GEM-SQ 0.17 (University of Bristol), L. Eyles (University of Exeter), A. Bunker (Anglo-Australian Observatory): “Redshifts for Spitzer-Detected Galaxies at z~6: Old Stars in the First Gyr” D. Lambert (U. of Texas, Austin), N. Rao (Indian Institute of Astrophysics), K. Hinkle (NOAO), D. GEM-SQ 1.3 Garcia-Hernandez (U. of Texas, Austin), K. Eriksson (Uppsala University): “Do R Coronae Borealis Stars Evolve from White Dwarf Mergers?” J. Lotz, US Lead Scientist for B. Miller (Gemini Observatory), W. Harris (McMaster U.), J. Lotz GEM-SQ 0.5 (NOAO): “Ages and Metallicities of the Nuclei of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies” B. Macintosh, US Lead Scientist for C. Marois (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), B. Macintosh GEM-NQ 1 (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), J. Patience (University of Exeter), R. Doyon (University of Montreal), B. Zuckerman (UCLA), I. Song (IPAC), D. Lafreniere (University of Toronto), T. Barman (Lowell Observatory): “Direct Exoplanet/Disk Search Around Young & Nearby Early-Type Stars; The International Deep Planet Survey (IDPS)”
8 NOAO DIVISIONS
+ Gemini Telescopes—2008A—Scheduled NGSC Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
T. Matheson (NOAO), L. Dessart (University of Arizona), S. Blondin (Harvard-Smithsonian Center GEM-NQ 1.2 for Astrophysics), B. Leibundgut (ESO), D. Hillier (U. of Pittsburgh), R. Kirshner (Harvard- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), B. Schmidt (Australian National U.), M. Hicken (G) (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics): “Constraining the Hubble Constant with a Type II Supernova” M. Modjaz (UC Berkeley), T. Matheson (NOAO), R. Kirshner, S. Blondin (Harvard-Smithsonian GEM-NQ 0.97 Center for Astrophysics), P. Mazzali (Max Planck Institut fur Astrophysik), E. Pian (INAF): “Revealing the Heart of the Explosion: Nebular-Phase Spectroscopy of Type I Supernovae” M. Mueller (University of Arizona), M. Delbo (Observatoire de la Cote d’Azur), D. Trilling, J. GEM-SQ 2 Stansberry (University of Arizona), D. Hestroffer (IMCCE), M. Maris (Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste), J. Van Cleve (Ball Aerospace), G. Tozzi (INAF), P. Tanga (Observatoire de la Cote d’Azur), W. Thuillot (IMCCE): “A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Thermal Inertia of Oberon and Titania from Q-Band Observations of Eclipses” C. Onken (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics), M. Valluri (U. of Michigan), L. Ferrarese (Herzberg GEM-NQ 1.15 Institute of Astrophysics), B. Peterson, R. Pogge (Ohio State U.), M. Vestergaard (University of Arizona): “Stellar Dynamics inside the Black Hole Sphere of Influence: The Reverberation-Mapped Seyfert Galaxy, NGC 4151” C. Papovich (University of Arizona), G. Rudnick (NOAO), E. Egami, M. Rieke (University of GEM-NQ 2.6 Arizona), J. Rigby (Carnegie Institution of Washington), C. Willmer (University of Arizona): “Survey of Pα in High Redshift Galaxies” E. Perlman, M. Merlo (Florida Institute of Technology), C. Packham (U. of Florida), M. Birkinshaw GEM-SQ 0.6 (University of Bristol), J. Radomski (Gemini Observatory), D. Worrall (University of Bristol), M. Georganopoulos (University of Maryland, Baltimore County): “High Resolution Mid-IR Imaging of Radio Galaxies” E. Perlman, M. Merlo (Florida Institute of Technology), C. Packham (U. of Florida), M. Birkinshaw GEM-NQ 0.6 (University of Bristol), J. Radomski (Gemini Observatory), D. Worrall (University of Bristol), M. Georganopoulos (University of Maryland, Baltimore County): “High Resolution Mid-IR Imaging of Radio Galaxies” S. Perlmutter, US Lead Scientist for I. Hook (University of Oxford), R. Carlberg, D. Howell, K. GEM-NQ 1 Perrett (University of Toronto), C. Pritchet (University of Victoria), M. Sullivan (University of Oxford), R. McMahon (IoA, Cambridge), E. Walker (University of Oxford), G. Aldering (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), S. Perlmutter (UC Berkeley), R. Pain (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), A. Conley (University of Toronto): “The Nature of Dark Energy from Type Ia Supernovae” M. Perrin, G. Duchene (UC Berkeley), M. Fitzgerald (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), C. GEM-NQ 0.5 Marois (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics): “Resolved Imaging of Two New Protoplanetary Disks around Young Fe Stars” J. Prieto (G), K. Stanek (Ohio State U.), A. Bonanos (Carnegie Institution of Washington): “Accurate GEM-NQ 1.1 Parameters of a Massive Yellow Supergiant Eclipsing Binary in the Dwarf Galaxy Holmberg IX” J. Rajagopal (NOAO), W. Danchi (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center): “NaSt1: Probing a Massive GEM-SQ 0.45 Star, Caught in Rare Transition, in the Mid Infrared” D. Richstone (U. of Michigan), T. Lauer (NOAO), K. Gultekin (U. of Michigan), K. Gebhardt (U. of GEM-NQ 1 Texas, Austin), S. Faber (UC Santa Cruz), S. Tremaine (Institute for Advanced Study): “The Massive Black Hole in M87”
9 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
+ Gemini Telescopes—2008A—Scheduled NGSC Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
H. Roe (Lowell Observatory), E. Schaller (G) (California Institute of Technology--Div of Geo and GEM-NQ 1 Planetary Science), M. Brown (California Institute of Technology), C. Trujillo (Gemini Observatory): “Titan’s Methane Clouds: Seasonal Change and Surface Geology” W. Romanishin (U. of Oklahoma), S. Tegler (Northern Arizona U.), W. Grundy (Lowell GEM-NQ 0.3 Observatory), D. Cornelison (Northern Arizona U.): “Methane and Nitrogen Stratigraphy on Surface of KBO (136472) 2005 FY9” D. Sand, D. Zaritsky (University of Arizona), C. Pritchet, H. Hoekstra, M. Graham (G) (University GEM-NQ 0.4 of Victoria), S. Sivinandam (G) (University of Arizona): “Optical Spectroscopy of Hostless and Hosted Cluster Supernovae Candidates” M. Sewilo (STScI), E. Churchwell (U. of Wisconsin Madison), S. Kurtz (UNAM), P. Hofner GEM-SQ 0.08 (NRAO): “Revealing the Nature of a Hypercompact HII Region G28.20-0.04 N” N. Smith (UC Berkeley): “Dust in the SN1987A-analog SBW1 in Carina” GEM-SQ 0.6 N. Smith (UC Berkeley): “IR Variability of Eta Carinae” GEM-SQ 1.1 A. Soderberg (Princeton U.), M. Phillips, B. Madore, E. Persson (Carnegie Observatories), M. GEM-NQ 0.67 Hamuy (Universidad de Chile), N. Suntzeff (Texas A&M U.), W. Freedman (Carnegie Observatories): “Revealing the Progenitors of Type Ibc Supernovae through Near-IR Spectroscopy” I. Song (IPAC), B. Zuckerman, J. Rhee, C. Melis (UCLA): “Terrestrial Planet Formation and GEM-SQ 0.7 Evolution around Sun-like Stars (Michelle Part)” I. Song (IPAC), B. Zuckerman, C. Melis, J. Rhee (UCLA): “Terrestrial Planet Formation and GEM-NQ 0.8 Evolution around Sun-like Stars (Michelle Part)” D. Stern (CalTech-JPL), M. Brodwin (NOAO), M. Brown (Princeton U.), R. Cool (G) (University of GEM-N 4 Arizona), A. Dey (NOAO), P. Eisenhardt (CalTech-JPL), A. Gonzalez (U. of Florida), V. Gorjian (CalTech-JPL), B. Jannuzi (NOAO), C. Kochanek (Ohio State U.): “A Statistical Sample of Mid-IR Selected AGN” M. Sun, M. Donahue (Michigan State U.), C. Jones (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), GEM-SQ 0.25 G. Voit (Michigan State U.): “Intracluster HII Regions and Star Formation” J. Tobin (G), L. Hartmann (U. of Michigan): “Imaging the Inner Envelope Structure: The Scattered GEM-NQ 1.26 Light Window” D. Turnshek, US Lead Scientist for D. Nestor (University of Cambridge), D. Turnshek (U. of GEM-NQ 0.8 Pittsburgh), B. Menard (CITA), M. Pettini (University of Cambridge), S. Rao (U. of Pittsburgh), A. Quider (U) (University of Cambridge): “The Nature of Ultra-strong MgII Absorber Galaxies”
U.S. Thesis Programs +
J. Andrews (T), G. Clayton (Louisiana State U.), D. Welch (McMaster U.), M. Barlow (University GEM-SQ 1.1 College London), B. Sugerman (Goucher College), M. Meixner (STScI): “Dust Formation in the Bright Type II SN 2007it” M. Auger (T), C. Fassnacht (UC Davis): “Mass in the Centers of Galaxies” GEM-NQ 0.74
+ Abbreviations and symbols: GEM-NQ = Gemini N Queue; GEM-SQ = Gemini S Queue; GEM-N = Gemini N classical; GEM-S = Gemini S classical; GEM-K = Gemini/Keck time exchange; GEM-Su = Gemini/Subaru time exchange; * = poor weather program; (T) = Thesis student; (G) = Graduate student; (U) = Undergraduate; (O) = Other
10 NOAO DIVISIONS
+ Gemini Telescopes—2008A—Scheduled NGSC Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
G. Blanc (T) (U. of Texas, Austin), P. Lira (Universidad de Chile), K. Gebhardt (U. of Texas, Austin), GEM-SQ 0.5 H. Francke (G) (Universidad de Chile), E. Gawiser (Rutgers U.), C. Gronwall (Pennsylvania State U.), P. Palunas (U. of Texas, Austin): “Integral Field Spectroscopy of Lyman Alpha Blobs in the Extended-CDFS” S. Brittain, M. Troutman (T), B. Donehew (G) (Clemson U.): “Measuring CO in Herbig Ae/Be Stars” GEM-S 2 L. Close, D. Apai, I. Pascucci, A. Skemer (T) (University of Arizona): “Does the Young Planetary GEM-SQ 2.5 Mass Prototype Object 2M1207b Have an Edge-on Disk?” R. Fesen, D. Milisavljevic (T) (Dartmouth College), C. Gerardy, P. Hoflich (Florida State U.), M. GEM-NQ 0.6 Modjaz (UC Berkeley): “The Mystery of the Double-Peaked Emission Lines in Late-Time Spectra of Core-Collapse SNe” D. Gies, S. Caballero-Nieves (T) (Georgia State U.): “Binaries among the Most Massive Stars” GEM-NQ 2.5 F. Hamann, L. Simon (T), P. Rodriguez Hidalgo (U. Florida): “Quasar Metallicities and Host Galaxy GEM-K 1 Evolution” L. Helton (T), C. Woodward (U. of Minnesota), A. Evans (Keele University): “The Evolving Classical GEM-NQ 1.2 Nova Eruption—Michelle Monitoring of Classical Novae” J. Kennefick, S. Bursick (T) (U. of Arkansas), E. Monier (State University College at Brockport), M. GEM-SQ 0.3 Smith (CTIO), P. Osmer (Ohio State U.): “Spectroscopy of Faint z>4.8 Quasar Candidates from the BTC40 Survey” T. Lebzelter (Universitat Wien (University of Vienna)), K. Hinkle (NOAO), M. Lederer (T) GEM-SQ 3 (Universitat Wien (University of Vienna)): “Nucleosynthesis and Dredge-up along the AGB” T. Oka (U. of Chicago), T. Geballe (Gemini Observatory), N. Indriolo (T), B. McCall (U. of Illinois GEM-S 4 Urbana-Champaign), M. Goto (Max Planck Institut fur Astronomie): “Studies of Warm and Diffuse + Gas near the Galactic Center Using Infrared Spectra of H3 and CO” M. Prescott (T) (University of Arizona), N. Kashikawa (NAOJ), Y. Matsuda (U. of Kyoto), A. Dey GEM-Su 1 (NOAO): “Mapping the Large Scale Structure Surrounding a z~2.7 Lyman-Alpha Blob” J. Werk (T), M. Putman (U. of Michigan), G. Meurer (Johns Hopkins U.), E. Ryan-Weber GEM-N 2 (University of Cambridge): “Gas Metallicity in the Far Outskirts of Galaxies” GEM-NQ 2.7
♣ KPNO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
T. Axelrod, E. Olszewski (University of Arizona), A. Saha (NOAO), J. Holberg (University of KP-2.1m 4 Arizona): “How to reach sub-1% Photometry in an All-Sky Survey Such as LSST” J. Birriel, T. Pannuti (Morehead State University): “Spectroscopic Observations of Selected Optically- KP-2.1m 4.5 Identified Supernova Remnants (SNRs) in the Nearby Face-On Spiral Galaxy M101” J. Bornak (G), B. McNamara, T. Harrison (New Mexico State U.): “Quantifying the Variabilities and KP-2.1m 8.5 Periodicities of Synchrotron Jets in X- Ray Binaries” J. Chaname (STScI), A. Gould (Ohio State U.), R. Van Der Marel (STScI): “Distant Wide Binaries as KP-4m 4 Tracers of the Galactic Halo”
♣ Key: WIYN-SYN: Synoptic/Queue; ToO: Target of Opportunity scheduling; (T): Thesis Student; (G): Graduate; (U) Undergraduate
11 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
♣ KPNO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
N. Chapman (G), L. Mundy (U. of Maryland), L. Allen (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for KP-4m 2 Astrophysics): “Observing the Gould’s Belt with NEWFIRM” M. Dickinson, M. Brodwin (NOAO), C. Conselice (University of Nottingham), E. Daddi (CEA), A. KP-4m 11 Dey (NOAO), S. Faber (UC Santa Cruz), B. Jannuzi (NOAO), J. Lee (Carnegie Observatories), K. Nandra (Imperial College London), C. Papovich (University of Arizona), N. Reddy, S. Salim (NOAO), B. Weiner, C. Willmer (University of Arizona), A. Bluck (G) (University of Nottingham): “Deep Near-Infrared Imaging of the Extended Groth Strip” E. Egami (University of Arizona), G. Smith, C. Haines (University of Birmingham), M. Takada, N. KP-4m 3 Okabe (Tohoku University), K. Umetsu (Academica Sinica), R. Ellis, J. Richard (California Institute of Technology), J. Kneib (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille), J. Carlstrom (U. of Chicago): “LoCuSS: Joint KPNO/Spitzer/Subaru Study of the Star Formation and Assembly Histories of Massive Galaxy Clusters” D. Fadda (NASA Herschel Science Center), A. Biviano (INAF): “Infalling Starburst Galaxies in the WIYN 3 Coma Cluster” P. Frinchaboy (U. of Wisconsin Madison), A. Sarajedini (U. of Florida), R. Mathieu, A. Geller (G), E. KP-4m 2 Braden (G) (U. of Wisconsin Madison): “WIYN Open Cluster Study (WOCS): Infrared Cluster Characteristics” A. Gonzalez (U. of Florida), M. Brodwin (NOAO), D. Stern, J. Bock (CalTech-JPL), M. Brown KP-4m 14 (Monash University), S. Bussman (G) (University of Arizona), A. Cooray (UC Irvine), A. Dey, M. Dickinson (NOAO), P. Eisenhardt (CalTech-JPL), B. Jannuzi (NOAO), Y. Lin (Princeton U.), A. Mainzer (CalTech-JPL), S. Stanford (UC Davis), I. Sullivan (California Institute of Technology), M. Zemcov (CalTech-JPL), S. Kautsch (U. of Florida): “A NEWFIRM Survey of the SDWFS/NDWFS Field” J. Helmboldt, A. Cohen, N. Kassim, W. Lane, T. Lazio (Naval Research Laboratory): “Redshifts of KP-2.1m 6 Sources from the VLA Low-frequency Sky Survey” K. Herrmann (G), R. Ciardullo (Pennsylvania State U.), J. Feldmeier (Youngstown State University): KP-4m 4 “The Stellar Kinematics of Outer Disks: Evidence for Halo Substructure?” K. Hinkle (NOAO), D. Lambert (U. of Texas, Austin), R. Joyce (NOAO): “Mass Loss and KP-4m 3 Abundances in the Final Flash” S. Howell (NOAO), M. Giampapa (National Solar Observatory), T. Harrison (New Mexico State U.), KP-4m 3 S. Hawley (U. of Washington), F. Hill (National Solar Observatory), K. Honeycutt (Indiana U.), S. Kafka (SSC), N. Silvestri, P. Szkody (U. of Washington), F. Walter (SUNY, Stony Brook), A. West (UC Berkeley): “Externally Induced or Internally Produced: What is the Source of the Extreme Magnetic Activity Observed in Very Low Mass Stars?” D. James (Vanderbilt U.), R. Jeffries, J. Oliveira (Keele University), P. Cargile (G) (Vanderbilt U.): WIYN 4 “Debris Disks at the Epoch of Terrestrial Planet Formation: IC 4665” W. Jao, T. Henry (Georgia State U.): “Cool Subdwarf Investigations (CSI): Multiplicity” KP-4m 4 S. Kafka (SSC), R. Honeycutt (Indiana U.), D. Hoard (SSC): “Sneezes, Gasps and Yawns in the KP-2.1m 6 Evolution of Cataclysmic Variables: a Spectroscopic Study of Winds” W. Keel, A. Manning (G) (U. of Alabama), C. Lintott (University of Oxford), B. Holwerda (STScI): WIYN 5 “Backlit Galaxies by the Hundreds: New Steps toward the Evolution of Dust” B. Keeney, J. Stocke, S. Penton, J. Green (U. of Colorado): “Gas and Galaxies in the Cosmic Web: A KP-0.9m 2 Galaxy Redshift Survey around HST/COS Target Sight Lines” WIYN 5
12 NOAO DIVISIONS
♣ KPNO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
J. Lotz (NOAO), L. Armus (SSC), T. Cox (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), P. Jonsson WIYN 3 (UC Santa Cruz), S. Kassin (IAP), C. Papovich, B. Weiner, J. Smith (University of Arizona): “SparsePak Observations of Galaxy Merger Kinematics, Star-Formation, and Feedback” R. Mandelbaum (Institute for Advanced Study), R. Nakajima (G), G. Bernstein (U. of Pennsylvania), KP-4m 4 M. Donahue (Michigan State U.), C. Keeton, J. Hughes (Rutgers U.), N. Bahcall (Princeton U.), T. Schrabback (G) (Universitat Bonn), N. Padmanabhan (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), S. Miyazaki (NAOJ), A. Kravtsov (U. of Chicago), K. Cavagnolo (G) (Michigan State U.), B. McLeod (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics): “Normalization and Scatter of the Mass- Temperature Relation for Supermassive Galaxy Clusters” R. Marzke (San Francisco State U.), M. Hudson (University of Waterloo), R. Tully (U. of Hawaii): KP-4m 3 “The Faint End of the Galaxy Luminosity Function: Efficient Photometric Selection of Faint Spectroscopic Targets in the Coma Cluster” S. McGaugh (U. of Maryland), R. De Naray (UC Irvine), M. Zagursky (U) (U. of Maryland), J. KP-2.1m 7 Schombert (U. of Oregon): “Multiwavelength Photometry of Dynamically Interesting Galaxies” KP-4m 8 S. McGaugh, M. McDonald (G) (U. of Maryland), S. Courteau (Queen’s University), J. Dalcanton (U. KP-4m 5 of Washington), J. Holtzman (New Mexico State U.), L. Macarthur (California Institute of Technology), R. Tully (U. of Hawaii), N. Vogt (New Mexico State U.), M. Hall (G) (Queen’s University), A. Klypin (New Mexico State U.): “The Velocity Function of Virgo Cluster Galaxies” S. Meibom (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), S. Barnes (Lowell Observatory), R. WIYN 2 Mathieu (U. of Wisconsin Madison), J. Hartman (G), M. Holman (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics): “The Connection between Binarity, Circumstellar Disks, and Stellar Rotation” A. Myers, R. Brunner (U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), G. Richards (Drexel U.), D. Schneider KP-4m 4 (Pennsylvania State U.), D. York (U. of Chicago): “The Evolution of Quasar Clustering on Small Scales” J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), B. Gladman (University of British Columbia), J. Kavelaars WIYN 6 (National Research Council of Canada), J. Petit (Observatoire de Besancon), L. Jones (U. of Washington): “Resonance in the Kuiper Belt: The History of the Outer Solar System” J. Provencal (U. of Delaware), M. Montgomery (U. of Texas, Austin), S. Thompson (U. of Delaware), KP-2.1m 6.5 S. Kepler (UFRGS), M. Reed (SW Missouri State U.): “Whole Earth Telescope Observations to Measure the Convective Properties of EC14012-1446” C. Pryor (Rutgers U.), E. Olszewski (University of Arizona), S. Piatek (New Jersey Institute of KP-4m 2 Technology): “Search for QSOs and AGNs behind Dwarf Galaxies of the Milky Way” C. Reynolds, M. Koss (G) (U. of Maryland), R. Mushotzky (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), S. KP-2.1m 8.5 Veilleux (U. of Maryland): “Imaging the Galaxy Hosts of AGN from the SWIFT BAT Survey” A. Rivkin (Johns Hopkins U.), D. Trilling (University of Arizona), P. Allen (Pennsylvania State U.): KP-2.1m 7 “Small Koronis-Family Asteroids as a Probe of Space Weathering” R. Swaters, S. Veilleux (U. of Maryland): “Extreme Star Formation: The Outermost Parts of Dwarf KP-2.1m 8 and LSB Galaxies” T. Tal (G), J. Kenney (Yale U.): “Hα Imaging of Virgo Ellipticals” KP-4m 3 J. Tomsick (UC San Diego): “Localization and Spectra of Integral-Selected Sources in the Galactic KP-4m 7 Plane” S. Veilleux, D. Rupke (U. of Maryland), N. Scoville (California Institute of Technology—Astronomy KP-4m 4 Dept.), D. Sand (U. of Hawaii): “Search for High-Redshift Emission-Line Galaxies”
13 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
♣ KPNO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
♣ U.S. Thesis Programs
H. Berrier (T), E. Barton, J. Berrier (G) (UC Irvine): “Galaxy Interactions” KP-2.1m 6.5 K. Carrell (T), R. Wilhelm (Texas Technical University): “Kinematic Properties of the Northern Arm WIYN 4 of the Sagittarius Stream” D. Crenshaw (Georgia State U.), M. Dietrich (Ohio State U.), M. Trippe (T) (Georgia State U.): KP-2.1m 6 “Variability of Seyfert Type and the Nature of Seyfert 1.8 and 1.9 Galaxies” J. Ge, B. Lee, S. Fleming (T), P. Guo (T), J. Crepp (T), J. Wang (T), S. Kane, S. Mahadevan (U. of KP-2.1m 8 Florida), J. Pepper, K. Stassun (Vanderbilt U.): “Exoplanet Tracker Upgrade and Radial Velocity Follow-ups of Planet and Brown Dwarf Candidates” A. Geller (T), R. Mathieu, E. Braden (G) (U. of Wisconsin Madison), D. Latham (Harvard- WIYN 8 Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics): “A Study Of Anomalous Stars and Binary Populations within Open Clusters: Tests of Theoretical Models” P. Hidalgo (T), F. Hamann (U. of Florida), D. Nestor (University of Cambridge), J. Shields (Ohio U.): KP-2.1m 6.5 “High Velocity Outflows in Quasars” M. Jackson (T) (Georgia State U.), D. Hunter (Lowell Observatory), V. Rubin (Carnegie Institution KP-4m 3 of Washington): “The Stellar Structure of Dwarf Galaxies” C. Kobulnicky, D. Kiminki (T) (U. of Wyoming): “Characterizing Massive Binaries in Cygnus OB2” WIYN 6 C. Ly (T), M. Malkan (UCLA), K. Motohara, M. Hayashi (G) (University of Tokyo), N. Kashikawa KP-4m 2 (NAOJ), K. Shimasaku (University of Tokyo), T. Nagao (NAOJ): “A Complete Census of z = 1–3 Galaxies in the Subaru Deep Field” B. Mason, W. Hatkopf (US Naval Observatory), D. Raghavan (T) (Georgia State U.): “Nearby Dwarf KP-4m 5 Stars: Duplicity, Binarity, and Masses” R. Munoz (T), S. Majewski, J. Carlin (G), D. Nidever (G), R. Patterson (U. of Virginia), K. Johnston WIYN 4 (Columbia U.): “Mapping of Two Newly Discovered Halo Substructures in the Grid Giant Star Survey” J. Pepper, K. Stassun (Vanderbilt U.), J. Wang (T), S. Fleming (T) (U. of Florida): “Radial-Velocity KP-2.1m 2 Confirmation for Two Promising Exoplanet Candidates in Praesepe” R. Stevenson (T), D. Jewitt (U. of Hawaii): “The Compositional Diversity of Comets” KP-2.1m 6.5 P. Van Dokkum, D. Marchesini, G. Brammer (T), K. Whitaker (T) (Yale U.), G. Rudnick (NOAO), KP-4m 24 M. Kriek (Princeton U.), G. Illingworth (UC Santa Cruz), R. Quadri (Leiden University), I. Labbe (Carnegie Observatories), M. Franx (Leiden University), K. Lee, A. Muzzin (Yale U.): “The NEWFIRM Medium-Band Survey: Accurate Redshifts for 40,000 K-selected Galaxies”
♣ Key: WIYN-SYN: Synoptic/Queue; ToO: Target of Opportunity scheduling; (T): Thesis Student; (G): Graduate; (U) Undergraduate
14 NOAO DIVISIONS
♣ KPNO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
S. Veilleux (U. of Maryland), J. Rhoads, S. Malhotra (Arizona State U.), M. McDonald (T), H. Krug KP-4m 11 (T) (U. of Maryland), J. Bland-Hawthorn (U. of Sydney), P. Capak (California Institute of Technology), A. Dey, M. Dickinson (NOAO), S. Ellis (Anglo-Australian Observatory), S. Finkelstein (G) (Arizona State U.), S. Furlanetto (Yale U.), I. Iliev (ETH), B. Jannuzi (NOAO), B. Mobasher (UC Riverside), N. Pirzkal (STScI), R. Probst (NOAO), D. Rupke (U. of Maryland), D. Sanders (U. of Hawaii), N. Scoville (California Institute of Technology), H. Spinrad (UC Berkeley), R. Swaters (U. of Maryland), S. Tilvi (Arizona State U.), J. Wang (University of Science & Technology of China), R. Windhorst (Arizona State U.): “The Dark Ages Survey: Probing Structure Formation and Reionization at z > 7 with NEWFIRM” L. Wei (T), S. Vogel (U. of Maryland), S. Kannappan (U. of North Carolina), A. Baker (Rutgers U.): KP-4m 3 “Mergers and Disk Evolution in Red- and Blue- Sequence Early-Type Galaxies” M. Yukita (T) (U. of Alabama), D. Swartz (USRA), W. Keel, R. White (U. of Alabama): “Feedback KP-2.1m 5.5 and Evolution in a Group of Galaxies”
♦ CTIO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
T. Abbott (CTIO), C. Haswell, S. Foulkes, F. Lewis (Open U.), P. Callanan, P. Elebert (G) CT-4m 5 (University College): “Accretion Disc Dynamics in the Millisecond Pulsar HETE J1900.1-2455” S. Barnes (Lowell Observatory), S. Meibom, S. Saar (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for CT-1.0m 21 Astrophysics): “A 21st Century View of Stellar Rotation” D. Clowe (Ohio U.), M. Ulmer (Northwestern U.): “Applying Weak Lensing Tomography to CT-4m 2 EDisCS” A. Crotts (Columbia U.), B. Sugerman (Goucher College), S. Lawrence (Hofstra University), S. CT-4m 1 Heathcote (SOAR): “The Formation of Supernova Remnant 1987A” A. Crotts (Columbia U.): “The Echo from Supernova 1987A” CT-0.9m-SVC 2 D. DePoy (Ohio State U.), D. Tucker (FNAL), R. Schmidt (O) (CTIO), B. Flaugher (FNAL): CT-1.0m 7 “Engineering Tests and Initial Calibration of DECam CCDs” P. Frinchaboy (U. of Wisconsin Madison), R. Benjamin (University of Wisconsin, Whitewater), SOAR 4 M. Skrutskie (U. of Virginia), E. Churchwell (U. of Wisconsin Madison), W. Kunkel (LCO), S. CT-4m 6 Majewski (U. of Virginia): “Mapping the Dynamics of the Milky Way with 2MASS -0.27in and GLIMPSE: Stellar Tracers of the Galactic Bar” J. Grindlay, P. Zhao, S. Laycock, M. Van Den Berg, J. Hong, X. Koenig (G) (Harvard- CT-4m 11 Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), H. Cohn, P. Lugger (Indiana U.): “ChaMPlane II: Optical Spectra and IR Imaging Identification of ChaMPlane X-ray Sources” J. Grindlay (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics): “Galactic Bulge Latitude Survey 3” CT-4m 4 T. Harrison (New Mexico State U.), G. Benedict, T. Barnes (U. of Texas, Austin), M. Feast CT-0.9m-SVC 0.8 (University of Cape Town), H. Smith (Michigan State U.), J. Johnson (New Mexico State U.): “An Astrometric Calibration of Population II Distance Indicators”
♦ Key: (G): Graduate; (O): Other; (T): Thesis Student; (U): Undergraduate
15 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
♦ CTIO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
T. Harrison (New Mexico State U.), G. Benedict, B. McArthur (U. of Texas, Austin), G. CT-0.9m-SVC 0.25 Laughlin (UC Santa Cruz), G. Torres (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), J. Johnson (New Mexico State U.): “The Architecture of Exoplanetary Systems” S. Howell (NOAO), M. Giampapa (National Solar Observatory), T. Harrison (New Mexico State CT-4m 4 U.), S. Hawley (U. of Washington), F. Hill (National Solar Observatory), K. Honeycutt (Indiana U.), S. Kafka (SSC), N. Silvestri, P. Szkody (U. of Washington), F. Walter (SUNY, Stony Brook), A. West (UC Berkeley): “Externally Induced or Internally Produced: What is the Source of the Extreme Magnetic Activity Observed in Very Low Mass Stars?” R. Humphreys (U. of Minnesota), J. Larsen (US Naval Academy), J. Cabanela (MSU CT-4m 5 Moorehead): “Mapping the Asymmetric Thick Disk—the Kinematics” P. Jonker (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics): “The Galactic Bulge Survey: CT-4m 3 Categorising the Plethora of Faint X-ray Sources in the Galactic Bulge” S. Kafka (SSC), R. Honeycutt (Indiana U.), D. Hoard (SSC): “Sneezes, Gasps and Yawns in the CT-4m 5 Evolution of Cataclysmic Variables: a Spectroscopic Study of Winds” S. Kafka (SSC), R. Honeycutt (Indiana U.), L. Schmidtobreick (ESO): “Exploring QU Carinae: A CT-1.5m-SVC 0.6 SNeIa Progenitor?” CT-1.3m 1.2 S. Kafka (CTIO), C. Deliyannis (Indiana U.), R. Smith, N. van der Bliek (CTIO): “Type II CT-1.0m 24 Cepheids and Related Variables” A. Landolt, J. Clem (Louisiana State U.): “Uranus in 2008: After the Ring Plane Crossing” CT-1.0m 69 B. Lee (U. of Florida), K. Von Braun (California Institute of Technology): “Spectral Types of CT-4m 2 Transiting Planet Candidates of the EXPLORE/OC Survey” S. Meibom (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), S. Barnes (Lowell Observatory), R. CT-4m 4 Mathieu (U. of Wisconsin Madison): “The Connection between Binarity, Circumstellar Disks, and Stellar Rotation” C. Miller (CTIO), H. Bohringer (Max-Planck Institute fur extraterrestrische Physik), K. Romer CT-4m 3 (University of Sussex), D. Pierini (Max-Planck Institute fur extraterrestrische Physik), M. Donahue (Michigan State U.): “REXCESS: An Optical/X-ray Study of Galaxy Cluster Sub- Structure” J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), B. Gladman (University of British Columbia), J. CT-4m 3 Kavelaars (National Research Council of Canada), J. Petit (Observatoire de Besancon), L. Jones (U. of Washington): “Resonance in the Kuiper Belt: The History of the Outer Solar System” I. Platais (Johns Hopkins U.), J. Stauffer (SSC), N. van der Bliek (CTIO): “Very Low Mass Stars CT-4m 1 and Brown Dwarfs in Three Nearby Open Clusters” J. Provencal (U. of Delaware), M. Montgomery (U. of Texas, Austin), S. Thompson (U. of SOAR 2 Delaware), S. Kepler (UFRGS), M. Reed (SW Missouri State U.): “Whole Earth Telescope Observations to Measure the Convective Properties of EC14012-1446” D. Schleicher (Lowell Observatory): “Imaging the Coma Morphology and Nucleus of Comet CT-0.9m-SVC 1.8 8P/Tuttle Following Perihelion” S. Sheppard (Carnegie Institution of Washington), C. Trujillo (Gemini Observatory): “A Survey SOAR 1 for L5 Neptune Trojans” CT-4m 2.5 S. Sheppard (Carnegie Institution of Washington), J. Elliot (MIT), S. Kern (STScI), C. Zuluaga CT-0.9m-SVC 4 (G), A. Gulbis (MIT): “Precise Astrometry for Predicting Kuiper Belt Object Occultations”
16 NOAO DIVISIONS
♦ CTIO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
I. Shih (Michigan State U.): “Monitoring the ~46-day Periodic Variability of LMXB 4U 1636- CT-1.3m 3.64 536 in Optical” K. Spekkens, T. Williams, J. Sellwood (Rutgers U.): “Cold Dark Matter and the Structure of CT-0.9m-SVC 2.1 Spiral Galaxies” K. Stassun (Vanderbilt U.), L. Hebb (U. of St. Andrews), S. Aigrain (University of Exeter), S. CT-1.0m 2 Hodgkin (University of Cambridge), A. Miller (G) (UC Berkeley), E. Moraux (LAOG), J. Irwin (Harvard U.): “High Precision Multi-band Photometry of Newly Discovered Young Eclipsing Binaries” M. Tsujimoto (Pennsylvania State U.), N. Kobayashi (Institute of Astronomy, University of CT-4m 2 Tokyo), J. Wang (G) (Pennsylvania State U.): “Optical Spectroscopic Confirmation of OB Star Candidates in HII Regions (2)” S. Van Dyk (SSC), P. Morris (NASA Herschel Science Center): “Revealing Hidden Evolved SOAR 3 Massive Stars in the Galaxy with GLIMPSE+2MASS” CT-4m 6 S. Vennes (Florida Institute of Technology), A. Kawka (Astronomicky Ustav), E. Arazimova (G) CT-4m 3 (Charles University, Prague): “High Proper Motion White Dwarfs: Atmospheric Properties” A. Walker (CTIO), G. Bono (Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma), S. Cassisi (OACT), M. CT-4m 4 Monelli (Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias), M. Dall’Ora (Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte), G. Andreuzzi (TNG), P. Stetson (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics): “Luminosity Functions of Evolved Populations in Galactic Globular Clusters” R. Wilhelm, W. Powell (G), K. Carrell (G) (Texas Technical University): “A Spectroscopic Study CT-4m 2 of Blue Plume Stars in the Canis Major Over-density” P. Winkler (Middlebury College), K. Long (STScI), C. Waite (U) (Middlebury College): CT-4m 3 “Measuring Asymmetries of Ejecta in Core-Collapse SNRs” CT-0.9m 5
♦ U.S. Thesis Program
J. Baldwin, E. Pellegrini (T) (Michigan State U.), G. Ferland (U. of Kentucky), N. Murray CT-4m 4 (CITA), M. Hanson (U. of Kentucky): “Stellar Feedback in Massive Star-Forming Regions” T. Beers, T. Sivarani (Michigan State U.), S. Schuler (CTIO), S. Rossi (IAGUSP), C. Kennedy (T) SOAR 6 (Michigan State U.): “Near-IR SOAR/OSIRIS Spectroscopy of Carbon Enhanced Metal-Poor Stars” B. Biller (T), L. Close (University of Arizona): “A Systematic Survey for Very Young Planetary CT-4m 3 Mass Objects” A. Burgasser (MIT), J. Faherty (T) (SUNY, Stony Brook), K. Cruz (California Institute of CT-4m 4 Technology), F. Vrba (US Naval Observatory), N. van der Bliek (CTIO), S. Schmidt (G) (U. of Washington), B. Swift (G) (University of Arizona), M. Shara (American Museum of Natural History), S. Hawley (U. of Washington), J. Liebert (University of Arizona), I. Reid (STScI): “The Brown Dwarf Kinematics Project: A Pilot Study” A. Cody (T), L. Hillenbrand (California Institute of Technology): “A Search for Pulsation in CT-1.0m 14 Young Brown Dwarfs” R. Cohen (T), A. Sarajedini (U. of Florida), K. Kinemuchi (Universidad de Concepcion): “Blue CT-1.0m 10 Straggler Variability in Galactic Globular Clusters”
♦ Key: (G): Graduate; (O): Other; (T): Thesis Student; (U): Undergraduate
17 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
♦ CTIO—Semester 2008A—Scheduled U.S. Programs (incl. U.S. Thesis) Telescope Nights
J. Greissl (T), M. Meyer (University of Arizona), R. Blum (NOAO): “Probing the IMF Beyond SOAR 4 the Milky Way: Spectroscopy of Young Star Clusters in NGC 5253 and IC 4662” J. Huchra (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), L. Macri (NOAO), K. Masters CT-1.5m-SVC 7 (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), T. Jarrett (IPAC), A. Crook (T) (MIT): “Mapping the Nearby Universe: The 2MASS Redshift Survey” C. Johnson (T), C. Pilachowski (Indiana U.), C. Sneden (U. of Texas, Austin): “Chemical CT-4m 5 Evolution in Omega Centauri: A Spectroscopic Survey Complete to V=13.5” E. Martin, R. Tata (T), R. Deshpande (T), P. Ngoc (University of Central Florida), T. Forveille CT-4m 3 (CFHT), M. Montgomery (University of Central Florida): “Infrared Parallaxes for T/Y Dwarfs from CFHTLS and UKIDSS” B. Mason, W. Hatkopf (US Naval Observatory), D. Raghavan (T) (Georgia State U.): “Nearby CT-4m 4 Dwarf Stars: Duplicity, Binarity, and Masses” J. Mauerhan (T), M. Morris (UCLA), M. Muno (California Institute of Technology): CT-1.3m 1.05 “Photometric and Spectroscopic Monitoring of Colliding-Wind X-ray Binaries in the Galactic Center” C. Miller (CTIO), S. Stanford (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), M. West (U. of CT-4m 7 Hawaii), K. Sabirli (G) (Carnegie Mellon U.), K. Romer (University of Sussex), R. Nichol (University of Portsmouth), P. Viana (Universidade do Porto), M. Davidson (G) (University of Edinburgh), C. Collins, M. Hilton (Liverpool John Moores University), S. Kay (University of Oxford), A. Liddle (University of Sussex), B. Mann (University of Edinburgh), N. Mehrtens (T) (University of Sussex): “Optical Follow-up of the XMM Cluster Survey: The XCS-NOAO Survey” R. Rich, C. Howard (T), D. Reitzel (UCLA), H. Zhao (U. of St. Andrews), K. Kuijken (Leiden CT-4m 5 University), A. Robin (Observatoire de Besancon), R. de Propris (CTIO), K. Griest (UC San Diego): “The Bulge Radial Velocity Assay: The Bulge/Disk/Halo Boundaries” C. Rodgers (T) (U. of Wyoming), K. Kinemuchi (U. of Florida): “New Galactic Globular Cluster CT-0.9m 2 Templates for UBV RC IC and DDO Colors” A. Skemer (G), L. Close, B. Biller (T) (University of Arizona): “The Characteristics and CT-1.3m 3.3 Periodicty of Extinction Events in VV Ser: A Map of Dust Structures in the Inner-Rim of a Herbig AeBe Disk” R. Smith (CTIO), D. Burke (SLAC), C. Stubbs (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), CT-1.5m-SVC 6 T. Axelrod (University of Arizona), C. Claver (NOAO), W. High (T), S. Blondin (Harvard- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), A. Saha (NOAO), P. Kelly (G) (SLAC): “Characterizing Atmospheric Absorption for Precision Photometry”
Community Access to Private Telescopes
♦ HET – Semester 2008A — Scheduled U.S. Programs (Includes U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
S. Kane, S. Mahadevan (U. of Florida): “Confirming the Nature of Potential Eclipsing Low-Mass HET 1.1 Stars Discovered with the SuperWASP Survey”
♦ Key: (G): Graduate; (O): Other; (T): Thesis Student; (U): Undergraduate
18 NOAO DIVISIONS
♦ HET – Semester 2008A — Scheduled U.S. Programs (Includes U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
A. Kraus (G), L. Hillenbrand (California Institute of Technology): “The Fundamental Properties HET 3 of M Dwarf Eclipsing Binaries” P. McCullough, C. Burke, J. Valenti (STScI), C. Johns-Krull (Rice U.), K. Janes (Boston U.), D. HET 1 Long (O) (STScI): “Eccentric XO Planets” M. Muterspaugh, J. Edelstein (UC Berkeley), J. Johnson (U. of Hawaii), J. Wright (UC HET 2 Berkeley): “Confirmation of the Low-Mass Exoplanet Orbiting GJ 176” S. Schuler, V. Smith, K. Cunha (CTIO), S. Margheim (Gemini Observatory), D. Lambert (U. of HET 0.7 Texas, Austin): “Absorption Near the λ 6708 Li Feature in High-Resolution Spectra of Metal- Rich Dwarfs” S. Zepf (Michigan State U.), K. Rhode (Indiana U.), A. Kundu (Michigan State U.), J. Salzer HET 0.6 (Indiana U.), T. Maccarone (University of Southampton), I. Shih (Michigan State U.): “HET/LRS Spectroscopy of a Black Hole in a NGC 4472 Globular Cluster”
MMT – Semester 2008A — Scheduled U.S. Programs (Includes U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
V. Kulkarni, J. Meiring (G), D. Som (G) (U. of South Carolina): “Absorption Line Spectroscopy MMT 3 of Gravitationally Lensed Quasars and Binary Quasars: Probing the Structure of Interstellar Matter within Distant Galaxies” M. Lacy (California Institute of Technology), S. Ridgway (CTIO), A. Sajina (SSC), C. Harrison MMT 2 (CTIO), L. Armus (SSC), D. Farrah (Cornell U.), A. Petric, L. Storrie-Lombardi (SSC): “The Luminosity Function of Dust Obscured Quasars” R. Marzke (San Francisco State U.), A. Hornschemeier (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), R. MMT 4 Smith (University of Durham), N. Miller (Johns Hopkins U.), M. Hudson (University of Waterloo), H. Ferguson (STScI), T. Bridges (Queen’s University), R. Tully (U. of Hawaii), D. Carter, M. Mouhcine (Liverpool John Moores University), N. Trentham (IoA, Cambridge), N. Caldwell (Smithsonian Institution), J. Lucey (University of Durham): “The Faint End of the Red Sequence in the Coma Cluster: A Comprehensive Spectroscopic Survey from the Core to the Virial Radius”
♦ U.S. Thesis Program
T. Brink (T), M. Mateo (U. of Michigan): “The Kinematics of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy MMT 3 Stream” C. Ly (T), M. Malkan (UCLA), T. Nagao, N. Kashikawa (NAOJ), K. Shimasaku (University of MMT 1 Tokyo): “Follow-up Spectroscopy for z.2 Emission-line Galaxies in the Subaru Deep Field”
♦ Key: (G): Graduate; (O): Other; (T): Thesis Student; (U): Undergraduate
19 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
Keck – Semester 2008A — Scheduled U.S. Programs (Includes U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
G. Bakos, G. Torres, D. Latham, R. Noyes, D. Sasselov (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Keck-I 2 Astrophysics): “Confirmation Spectroscopy of HATNet Transiting Exoplanet Candidates Using Keck-I/HIRES” T. Barman, L. Prato (Lowell Observatory), D. Segransan (Observatoire de Geneve), J. Barnes Keck-II 0.5 (University of Hertfordshire): “Constraining the K-band Spectrum of a Transiting Extrasolar Planet” T. Beers (Michigan State U.), J. Norris (Australian National U.), C. Allende Prieto (U. of Texas, Keck-I 1 Austin), W. Aoki (NAOJ), M. Asplund (Max Planck Institut fur Astrophysik), M. Bessell (Australian National U.), N. Christlieb (Uppsala University), A. Frebel (U. of Texas, Austin), J. Johnson (Ohio State U.), J. Melendez (Australian National U.), C. Sneden (U. of Texas, Austin), D. Yong (Australian National U.): “A Dedicated Northern Search for the First Stars” C. Bender, J. Carr (Naval Research Laboratory): “Direct Spectroscopy of Non-Transiting Keck-II 0.5 Extrasolar Planets” K. Covey (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), S. Edwards (Smith College), W. Keck-II 1 Fischer (G) (U. Mass): “Identifying the Origin of Winds in Young Stellar Objects: Spectroscopy of He I λ 10830 in Class I Sources” B. Wakker (U. of Wisconsin Madison), D. York (U. of Chicago), T. Beers (Michigan State U.), Keck-I 1 R. Wilhelm (Texas Technical University), J. Barentine (G) (U. of Texas, Austin), J. Howk (U. of Notre Dame), P. Richter (Universitat Bonn): “Distances to High-Velocity Clouds” K. Williams, E. Jeffery (G) (U. of Texas, Austin): “Spectroscopic Confirmation of Candidate Keck-II 1 Type Ia Supernova Progenitors”
U.S. Thesis Program ♦
F. Hamann, L. Simon (T), P. Hidalgo (G) (U. of Florida): “Quasar Metallicities and Host Galaxy Keck-I 1 Evolution” M. Prescott (T) (University of Arizona), A. Dey, N. Reddy (NOAO): “Spectroscopic Follow-up Keck-I 1 of Low Redshift (z<2) Lyman Alpha Emitting Galaxies”
Magellan – Semester 2008A — Scheduled U.S. Programs (Includes U.S. Thesis Programs) Telescope Nights
J. Fulbright (Johns Hopkins U.), E. Grebel (Heidelberg University), G. Ruchti (G), R. Wyse Magellan-II 1 (Johns Hopkins U.): “Elemental Abundances and Kinematics of Very Metal-Poor RAVE Stars”
U.S. Thesis Program
J. Meiring (T), V. Kulkarni (U. of South Carolina), C. Peroux (Observatoire astronomique de Magellan-II 2 Strasbourg), J. Lauroesch (U. of Louisville), P. Khare (Utkal University), D. York (U. of Chicago): “Probing the Chemical Content of the Universe with Sub-DLA Systems”
♦ Key: (G): Graduate; (O): Other; (T): Thesis Student; (U): Undergraduate
20 NOAO DIVISIONS
1.4.2 System Instrumentation
Program Highlights The team designing the WIYN One Degree Imager (ODI) issued a Request for Proposals for construction of their detector controller. The Request specified an internal architecture for the controller that was incompatible with NOAO’s MONSOON design, so the System Instrumentation Division elected not to submit a proposal. The ODI project selected a controller developed at the University of Hawai’i for the PanSTARRS project instead. As a result, the MONSOON team has been able to devote its undivided attention to developing the version of MONSOON needed for replacement of existing controllers on Kitt Peak and Cerro Tololo. Discussions are underway with the operations staffs for the two mountain sites about which instruments should receive the modified MONSOON controllers and in what order. Virtually all the mechanical fabrication for the SAM main module was completed during the second quarter of FY2008. The SAM team is now ready to begin assembly and testing of the module in the optics lab.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Make substantial progress toward implementation of design changes for MONSOON as agreed between MONSOON and WIYN-ODI teams. Status: Resolved through decision of ODI project not to use the MONSOON controller. • Make substantial progress toward implementation of design changes for MONSOON as needed to allow use as a plug-in replacement for old systems on KPNO and CTIO. Status: Significant progress has been made toward reducing the size and power consumption of the original MONSOON design while retaining most of the benefits of reliability and flexibility. • Complete fabrication and make substantial progress on assembly and integration of the SAM Main Module, working towards a goal of readiness for delivery to SOAR early in FY09. Status: Fabrication complete. Assembly and integration should begin in the third quarter of FY08.
1.4.3 Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope Program Office (GSMTPO)
Program Highlights GSMTPO continued to monitor the progress of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) and Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) projects on behalf of the NSF. Both projects are actively engaged in their respective design and development phases. NOAO staff have attended relevant design reviews and science advisory group meetings. Preparations for the community workshop sponsored by the GSMT Science Working Group are well underway (see milestone below). The reduction in the FY08 NOAO budget has led to two changes in the program: the GSMT Technology Development work package has been eliminated, and non-payroll funding for the Giant Telescopes workshop will be taken from the SPO-10 award rather than the NOAO budget.
21 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
Status of FY08 Milestones • GSMT SWG starts work on GSMT Design Reference Mission. This effort requires consultation with the NSF, GMT, and TMT. Status: The GSMT SWG, GMT, and TMT agreed to sponsor a workshop entitled “Science with Giant Telescopes: Public Participation in TMT and GMT,” to be held in Chicago, 15–18 June. A scientific organizing committee was formed and issued an initial round of invitations. • TMT selects a site; TMT-related site testing is complete. Status: TMT has decided to defer final site selection until 2009, while down-selecting in 2008 to a single Northern Hemisphere site and a single Southern Hemisphere site. Site testing related to site selection will end as scheduled; equipment will be removed and sites will be restored by the end of the calendar year. Site testing will be followed by a program of measurements at multiple locations at a single site (probably Cerro Armazones in Chile) intended to validate CFD modeling; this will provide confidence that effects of modifications to the site necessary for construction can be accurately predicted.
1.4.4 Data Products Program
Program Highlights Beta testing of version 1.0 of NOAO’s End-to-End (E2E) data management system has been providing new services to users of the Mosaic and NEWFIRM instruments (our beta-test users). The good feedback DPP has received from several of those users is being folded into preparations for the next release of the system. A preliminary release of the next version (1.1) was delivered and extensive testing is underway. This version integrates the pipeline data (as reported last quarter) and includes interface improvements in the NOAO VO Portal. The NEWFIRM “quick-reduce and quick-look” environment, which provides rapid reduction of NEWFIRM data at the telescope, has been used extensively as the instrument has entered a phase of heavy use by visiting astronomers. User feedback to the near-real-time reductions has been extremely positive. The final phase of development of the downtown NEWFIRM pipeline for production of archive-quality reductions has benefited from feedback generated by use of the mountain-based system.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Deployment of the next major version of the NOAO E2E data management system, including a new, scalable, data transport system; data remediation framework (to catch and correct bad header information and other erroneous metadata); integration of pipeline processing and processed data; high-level data products (e.g., stacked NEWFIRM and Mosaic images); and an improved NOAO NVO Portal to support both these new E2E features as well as new NVO standards.
22 NOAO DIVISIONS
Status: The new data transport system was delivered as part of release v1.1, and is undergoing testing with real data feeds from several telescopes, both North and South. The development team designed a data remediation framework and is working on the implementation. • Full scale operations of the E2E system, including daily ingest and data transport from all NOAO instruments, pipeline processing of Mosaic and NEWFIRM data, remediation of erroneous metadata, and support for users. Status: Operations of the current version of the E2E system continue in beta testing. This involves full-scale operations, although with several parts of the process being manually handled. In particular, our manual remediation of the headers from all telescopes has uncovered several issues with Kitt Peak and Cerro Tololo observatory systems. In several cases, the issues uncovered would have gone unnoticed without DPP monitoring of metadata quality. • Development of the long-range plan for Science Support Software development, in collaboration or at least coordination with STScI, Gemini, and other groups with active astronomical software development programs. The plan will identify all affected areas of NOAO (observatory operations to user reduction) and other participating entities, list the steps to be taken, and estimate manpower required over the five years to reduce dependencies on IRAF and move to a modern platform. Status: Extensive discussions have lead to an agenda for an AURA Software Workshop in mid- June 2008. There is clear interest in collaboration and coordination of programs, and the June meeting will provide the opportunity to translate that interest into actual plans for implementation.
23
2 NOAO-WIDE PROGRAMS
2.1 LARGE-APERTURE SYNOPTIC SURVEY TELESCOPE (LSST)
Program Highlights Work on the LSST site has continued this period with a contract for civil engineering of site excavation and the removal of flora by biologists as recommended in the preliminary biological assessment. A lunar scintilometer campaign was run in March and plans are underway for micro thermal measurements on the summit in the third quarter. The telescope and site team continued to support primary mirror development; finalizing support designs and monitoring the casting effort at the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab. RFPs were let for the secondary mirror substrate. Preparations continued this quarter for NOAO support of the call and review for wider U.S. community participation in the LSST Science Collaborations. The Web-based forms and review process were defined and the official call is planned for the third quarter.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Site and Facility: Develop the complete rough excavation plan based on Geo-tech report. Status: A contract was placed with ARCADIS to develop the plans and specifications for cutting down the site and for how to use the spoils for changing the access road. • Telescope Mount: Refine the mount dynamic FEA model to propagate earthquake loads to telescope subsystems. Status: A model was refined and exercised to determine loads within the structure resulting from earthquake accelerations. A lumped mass model was also developed for detailed control analysis. • Reflective Optics: Finalize M1M3 casting design and monitor casting process. Status: The mold was completed, glass loaded, and firing started this period. “High fire,” when the glass is molten and flows into the casting, was achieved 29 March 2008.
2.2 PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH (PAEO)
Education Outreach Highlights The international star-hunting activity known as GLOBE at Night 2008 inspired 6,839 measurements of night-sky brightness by citizen scientists around the world, including 684 digital measurements using handheld sky-quality meters. The third edition of GLOBE at Night was held 25 February–8 March with assistance from the educational outreach networks of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) to help spread the campaign to amateur astronomers and science
24 NOAO-WIDE PROGRAMS
centers. The 2008 campaign received measurements from 62 countries, surpassing last year’s total of 60 countries. Just over 4,800 of the measurements came from the United States (with 48 states and the District of Columbia reporting at least one measurement). Hungary had the most measurements (380) from outside the U.S., followed by Romania, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, and Spain, all with over 100 observations. A team consisting of astronomers from NOAO and Spitzer Science Center, high school teachers, and their students presented their discovery of dark matter in accretion disks—and its potentially large implications for several branches of astronomy—during a press conference at the AAS meeting in Austin on 9 January. As part of a continuing joint outreach project called the Spitzer-NOAO Observing Program for Teachers and Students, the research team observed the interacting binary star WZ Sagittae (WZ Sge) using the 2.1-meter and WIYN 0.9-meter telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Infrared Array Camera on NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. This discovery was covered by a variety of news media, including BBC News, National Geographic News, and Astronomy.com, several astronomy blogs, and local newspapers and radio programs in the teachers’ hometowns of Great Falls, Pittsburgh, and Brentwood, CA.
Public Outreach Highlights The public outreach staff was busy this quarter. March 2008 set a one-month record for guests at the Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program (NOP), with more than 1,100 attendees, thanks to only three nights lost to weather and full operation of the three public outreach telescopes. PAEO public outreach staff made presentations to the University of Arizona’s Elderhostel program and to a group of about one hundred visitors from Michigan who were wintering in Tucson. The lunar eclipse of 20 February attracted 42 guests who braved the wind and cold to glimpse the last total lunar eclipse visible in the Tucson area until December 2010. Staff members and volunteers supported special performances of Holst’s “The Planets” by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, where they staffed a booth and promoted Kitt Peak public programs as part of a gathering of local attractions sponsored by the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau.
PAEO Public Affairs and Educational Outreach Kitt Peak Visitor Center Information Requests & Inquiries Summary of Visitors (3 months ending 3/31/08) (3 months ending 3/31/08) Group/Program # of Visitors Type/Origin of Request Number General public tours 2,250 Information requests/inquiries about 55 astronomy/science (phone calls, e- School groups K-12 286 mails, and walk-ins/requests for posters, bookmarks, brochures, etc. Special tours 0 Requests and inquiries for use of 162 Nightly Obs. Program 2,234 NOAO images TOTAL 217 Advanced Obs. Program 63 TOTAL VISITORS 4,833
25 NOAO QUARTERLY REPORT FY 2008 (2)
Status of FY08 Milestones • Support expanded NOAO efforts to engage the astronomical community, including publicity for results from the ReSTAR committee, an active NOAO presence at the winter 2008 AAS meeting, multimedia products, and expanded newsletter-style information via email. Status: NOAO presented a lively exhibit booth at a prime location during the January 2008 AAS meeting in Austin, combining general NOAO information, the presence of NGSC and its help desk, and data archive demonstrations by DPP (including Lego robotic telescopes). Materials prepared by PAEO included a colorful, new marketing poster on NOAO (later mailed to 900+ astronomy departments and career centers), a new exhibit-sized image of the Veil Nebula from the Mayall 4- meter telescope, a USB-port expander with the NOAO logo for laptop computers, a handout on ReSTAR results, and a raffle ticket for an Apple iTouch. The iTouch drawing was held at the NOAO town hall meeting. This town meeting was highly successful, with almost 300 attendees and numerous questions from the audience. In February, the first issue of the NOAO Currents electronic newsletter was sent to more than 3,000 email contacts from NOAO proposal and committee member lists. Currents, edited by J. Najita and produced by NOAO Web Designer M. Newhouse, garnered a uniformly positive response. • Install at least two new exhibits at the Kitt Peak Visitor Center: the technology of large telescope mirrors, and a display of near real-time solar images in H-alpha and Calcium-K, supplied from donated Coronado telescopes in the Razdow dome. Status: The large-telescope mirror display was completed and put on display in late January. • Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the selection of Kitt Peak as the site for the U.S. national observatory, in concert with the wishes of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Status: The internal planning committee for the Kitt Peak 50th anniversary held its first meeting, a flier was produced for the annual meeting of AURA member representatives, and detailed discussions were held with the Arizona Daily Star regarding a special section in the newspaper being planned for late September 2008.
2.3 ADMINISTRATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
2.3.1 Tucson and Kitt Peak Site Safety Report
Various annual regulatory documents were completed this quarter, including the OSHA 300A log, signed by the NOAO Director and posted throughout Tucson and Kitt Peak facilities. For calendar year 2007, Tucson suffered two minor injuries giving an OSHA incident rate of 0.79. Kitt Peak experienced two injuries giving an incident rate of 4.4 (four injuries per 100 employees). Year to date this fiscal year, there have been no employee injuries. Kitt Peak Emergency Medical Technicians and employees responded to help visitors needing medical assistance in February and March. Also in
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March, an employee leaving Kitt Peak in shuttle vehicle #58 struck a deer that ran in front of the vehicle causing $8400 in damage. A number of additions and updates were made to the NOAO Safety Web site at www.noao.edu/noaolocal/safety/. The Kitt Peak Emergency Manual revision 10 and the Risk Management Manual revision 3 (safety handbook) replaced older versions. New to the Web site, is the Insurance section, which includes links to an international travel checklist; domestic, Hawaii, and international auto rental insurance cards; and the 2008 ACE International Medical Assistance information. The Kitt Peak “mountain” Web site was also updated with the newest version of the Kitt Peak Emergency Manual, in HTML and PDF, and a link to the NOAO Risk Management (Safety) Web site was added. The NOAO/NSO Contingency Plan was updated, a document called “Open This First” was created for people to use in the event of an emergency, and the contact lists are being updated. AURA received insurance credits totaling $44,033 primarily due to better-than-average injury rates during fiscal year 2007. Gemini Hawaii enjoyed a credit of $10,232 and operations in the continental U.S. received the remainder of the credit.
2.3.2 NOAO Director’s Office
Program Highlights The staff working group on Engaging the Community is working on a revision of the NOAO Web site. The Observatory Council met in La Serena in February; highlights of this meeting included interviews of the NOAO Director candidates, reviews of the System Instrumentation and Data Products Programs, and a discussion of the developing plan to address the recommendations of the ReSTAR study. The AURA Board met in Maryland in February and completed the NOAO Director selection process.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Develop and implement new efforts to engage the community, in order to keep them more informed of the activities of the NOAO program, and to solicit their input and advocacy. Status: A very successful NOAO presence at the January 2008 AAS meeting in Austin culminated in a town meeting with almost 300 attendees. A poster highlighting the NOAO program was mailed to several hundred astronomy and physics departments around the United States, with a cover letter offering NOAO staff visits to discuss the program. During this quarter, NOAO’s new electronic newsletter, Currents, was launched. The first issue (February 15) contained a report on the ReSTAR committee recommendations, a summary of the status of the Gemini partnership, and a science article on a project aimed at studying the evolution of the properties of type Ia supernovae. • Conduct a search for a new CTIO Director to replace Alistair Walker, whose term expires in November, 2008. Status: Following an advertisement and solicitations by the search committee, several applications have been received.
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2.3.3 Central Administration Services (CAS)
Program Highlights The focus during the second quarter of FY08 for Central Administration Services was preparing for the upcoming NSF AST cost review, which will take place in the April–June 2008 timeframe. In conjunction, the status of the current FY08 budget was still unclear with implications of a flat budget, thus deferring the planned increase of $2.3M to FY09. Preparations began for addressing the deferment through reallocation of program plans and staffing levels. Additionally, the NOAO accounting staff prepared the final calendar-end tax reports. Human Resources (HR) completed the annual performance management evaluations, held a successful recruitment training, and redesigned the Conflict of Interest reporting process to include an automated annual Web-based updating process. Additionally, the search for a new CTIO Director got underway. At NOAO South, the volatile Chilean peso/U.S. dollar exchange rate continued to have a negative effect on operational and administrative costs there. The impact to the NOAO program for the quarter was approximately $147,000, totaling $158,000 since 1 October 2007. Below is a graph depicting rates from the period 22 October to 11 April. On a positive note, the average for the fiscal year is 477 and currently holding around 456. Our NOAO South annual peso budget is approximately $3.5M of, or roughly 14% of, the overall NOAO budget for FY08. The NOAO Executive Council reviewed the current peso risk and will be re-budgeting program funds to work towards a balancing of the NOAO South budget.
Chart provided courtesy of www.exchange-rates.org
2.3.4 Central Facilities Operations (CFO)
Program Highlights NOAO Central Facilities Operations continued to complete planned projects. The new Science Interaction Room is nearing completion. The Northeast parking lot was redesigned to include
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security keycard access. Over the last 10 years, parking has become scarce as we relocated on the University of Arizona campus. Securing our parking lot has allowed us to better serve the employees of NOAO and NSO. However, it should be noted that while we have 150 spaces, we have over 325 employees who wish to park. We continue to encourage alternative forms of transportation such as public and carpooling. Other challenges include the use of space and the working atmosphere and conditions. We convened a Tucson-wide NOAO Cleaning and Greening committee whose charge is to form sub- committees to help improve our facilities. This will include space re-engineering, storage, recycling, and working atmosphere improvements like our Science Interaction Room. Below is a photo of our current Tucson headquarters facility. We have also had further pressures on our computer room and power station. Due to the age of our facilities, this is not unexpected, but we are obtaining a consultant on how to re-engineer our dated data facilities. Three of our staff, K. Wilson, Associate Director for Administration and Facilities; J. Dunlop, Tucson Facility Manager; and S. Grandi, Computer Support Infrastructure Manager; presented at the first annual NSF Large Facilities Workshop. The presentation included an overview of 50 years of facility maintenance challenges and lessons learned. At NOAO South, a portion of the library has been cleared out to prepare for new office space; however, this has been delayed due to the postponement of funding. The main conference room is undergoing an upgrade with a new video projection system, curtains, and installation of supplementary lighting.
Picture courtesy of John Dunlop
2.3.5 Computer Infrastructure Support (CIS)
Program Highlights At NOAO-Tucson, CIS accomplished several things this quarter. The Barracuda Spam Firewall appliance was installed as part of the email system. The network connection between NOAO-Tucson and the University of Arizona was upgraded from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. The DS-3 link between Tucson and Kitt Peak was “stabilized” with the acquisition of new interfaces for Cisco routers on either end of the link. CIS finished upgrading all the wireless access points in the building to HP 420
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units, making possible future improvements to wireless security. A rack of WIYN/ODI computers was installed in the computer lab. At Kitt Peak, CIS installed a new computer at the 4-meter to control the NEWFIRM guider. We also installed computers for the Kitt Peak Site Monitoring Instrument Suite project and at WIYN for the WHIRC instrument and for the Bench Upgrade to MONSOON. More new computers were installed at the 4-meter to run the GWC router software, moving that software from an old SUN Solaris machine. Hard-drive-based Digital Video Recorders were installed at the 4-meter, 2.1- meter, and WIYN to capture video signals to help in diagnosing problems. Memory and disks in some of the older Linux systems at KPNO and WIYN were upgraded. The upgrade of the Gold Guider controller and Filter Wheel controller at the 2.1-meter, which replaced some old CAMAC interfaces, was completed. NOAO South was also busy this quarter. CISS made all the network connections, data and voip, for the new Pachón dorm, which is operated by AOSS. The La Serena and Tololo cisco6500 processor engines were upgraded. Facilities in La Serena and at SOAR on Cerro Pachón received installation of numerous IP phones. The SNORT IDL control server was installed. The laser facility in La Serena installed a data and voip network. CISS made secure the La Serena computer room with keycard locks and a centralized fire system alarm. Additionally, the La Serena computer room air conditioning unit was completely refurbished. Dual-screen, 32" active monitors were installed in the La Serena reception area. The 4-meter console received a new QSX6000 Polycom with a 45" monitor. Talks and meetings continue regarding LSST network needs in Chile and internationally.
Status of FY08 Milestones • Plan and begin execution of an improvement plan for the Ethernet electronics in “wiring closets” spread around the NOAO-Tucson building. Status: Single-mode fiber bundles were pulled from the computer lab to rooms 135, 137, and 83 to support higher-speed data links. Additionally, an Ethernet switch was installed in room 135 to support gigabit connections to offices.
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3 SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM ORDERS AND AMENDMENTS
3.1 SPO #3 AST-0243875 KPNO RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REU)
The final report for SPO #3 AST-0243875 was submitted to the NSF 31 March 2008. A request for funding for another five-year KPNO REU program was submitted and the receipt of the new SPO is expected next quarter. The 2008 KPNO REU students (two women, four men) and their mentors follow:
REU Student Affiliation Mentors
Timothy Arnold Ohio State University Steve Howell, Kenneth Mighell, and Katy Garmany Taylor Chonis University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chuck Claver and Jacques Sebag Matthew Henderson Clemson University William Sherry Tiffany Meshkat University of California, Los Angeles Chuck Claver and Kenneth Mighell Ashley Stewart University of Arkansas John Glaspey Matthew Zagursky University of Maryland Jennifer Lotz
3.2 SPO #5 AST-0335461 TELESCOPE SYSTEM INSTRUMENTATION PROGRAM (TSIP)
Following the successful review of FY07 proposals in the first quarter, memoranda of understanding have been signed with the Keck, Steward, MMT, and Magellan observatories to gain further community access to these facilities through instrumentation development programs for each. For MMT, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the first “System Access” proposal to TSIP, which trades time for operating funds on a one-to-one basis. All management activities related to the current TSIP subawards are up-to-date.
3.3 SPO #6 AST-0336888 ADAPTIVE OPTICS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Sub-Award #C33001T “A Noiseless Imaging Detector for AO with Kilohertz Frame Rates.” A working optical tube has been produced and is being tested. The tube had to be manufactured in-house and took much longer than expected. All AODP funds have been used, so testing has been continuing at a lower level. QE was lower than anticipated, but all other performance parameters have been met. Results will be presented at the June SPIE meeting in Marseilles, France.
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Sub-Award #C33002T “Development of the Next Generation Optical Detectors for Wavefront Sensing.” The mask set for the production of the polar coordinate detector prototype is complete. We are waiting for the primary wafer customer to begin their run. Additional CCID-56b devices have had backside processing and wafer probing completed with the devices to be packaged by the mid to late June timeframe. The Gemini Planet Imager is evaluating the CCID-56b/d for their wavefront sensor. The development of a larger 256x256-pixel version with 40 video outputs for the TMT NGS mode wavefront sensor and for the NGAO project at WMKO is being discussed. Sub-Award #C33003T “Pulsed Fiber Laser for Guide Starts.” The system is undergoing repackaging so it can be used as a test-bed at the Lick Observatory later this year. Mechanical design of the chassis was completed. New pump laser and fiber have been ordered and received as well as sum-frequency mixing crystals and a temperature control oven. The project is on track for producing 589 nm light late in second quarter or early third quarter. Sub-Award #C33005T “Compact Modular Scalable Versatile LGS Architecture for 8–100-m Telescopes.” A no-cost extension for this phase of work was given until the end of March 2008. Due to the arrival of the electronic cabinets for the Gemini-S laser guide star system, lab space was limited so the AODP laser system was moved to another laboratory and then had to be set up and reconfigured. That was completed and we are now ready for a demo of the 50W of 589 nm light. A project review will be held 6 May.
3.4 SPO #7 AST-0432601 SUPPORT FOR CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER MEETINGS
There are no activities to report at this time.
3.5 SPO #9 AST-0551161 LARGE SYNOPTIC SURVEY TELESCOPE PROJECT
The sub-award to LSST was amended on 29 January 2008, extending it through 30 September 2008 in the amount of $1,440,000. For an update on the project status please refer to page 24 of this report and/or the main LSST Web site, which can be found at http://www.lsst.org/lsst_home.shtml.
3.6 SPO #10 AST-0443999 GIANT SEGMENTED MIRROR TELESCOPE PROJECT
Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) A quarterly payment was made for Milestone 2 (based on acceptance of TMT’s second quarter interim report).
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The sub-award funds have been applied entirely to support efforts in TMT science and operations design, observatory software, system engineering and modeling, and telescope system management and optics design. The supported personnel include crucial leadership in these efforts. These efforts have all been subject to external review, and these reviews have been attended by AURA oversight personnel and NSF officials. System Engineering: G. Angeli continued to lead the Systems Engineering efforts for TMT. He guided the work of updating the top-level system requirements as well as their flow down to subsystem Design Requirements Documents. He also led the current efforts of modeling and design verification work, which will culminate in the TMT Image Quality Performance Review 15–16 April. In particular, he coordinated the optical, thermal, and dynamic simulations integrated into a consistent Monte Carlo environment to provide stochastic estimates for the overall TMT performance. K. Vogiatzis continued to work on aero-thermal modeling of the observatory site, including the inside and outside of the enclosure. He also coordinated the thermal modeling work of M. Cho (NOAO) and his students. Telescope Science Operations: David Silva continues as the Observatory Scientist and interim head of the Operations Design (DEOPS) department for the TMT Project. Key accomplishments during this quarter were: orchestrated TMT booth operations for the January AAS meeting in Austin (with S. Dawson and C. Steidel); developed revised development plan for observatory software architecture and requirements documentation; and participated in the on-site construction review. A. Otarola, Assistant Scientist, was engaged in: assisting with the Environmental Declaration Assessment (DIA, Spanish acronym) documents for potential Chilean sites as well as researching construction- and operations-phase logistics issues; collaborating with the TMT Site Testing Team in the analysis of precipitable water vapor observations; and assisting on tasks related to TMT accreditation at the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Segmented Primary Mirror Design: This quarter’s activities for L. Stepp, Telescope Department Head, and E. Williams, Optics Group Leader for Segmented Primary Mirror Design Support, included: supervision of department/group staff and contracts; visits to several contractors and potential contractors for progress meetings and facility tours; numerous technical meetings and reviews for the Controls, Optics and Structures groups; planning for Telescope Department activities for the next 30 months; and development of statement of work, requirements documents and specifications for primary mirror segment fabrication. NOAO Sub-contracts: Work was performed under contract at NOAO related to design of the secondary and tertiary mirrors and the design of the laser guide star facility (LGSF). Thermal modeling of the telescope optics was also carried out; this activity involved two University of Arizona students contracted by NOAO on behalf of TMT. Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) In January 2008, the project held a quarterly progress review for the first primary mirror segment. Steward Observatory Mirror Lab completed the front surface generation of the first segment and began stressed-lap polishing. Work began during the quarter on installing the Laser Tracker Plus metrology system, which will be used to guide the polishing process. Completion of the first segment
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and implementation of the metrology systems are both work items under the amended sub-award to GMT (Carnegie). The GMT project held several meetings in March 2008. First was a meeting of the Project Scientists’ Working Group, which reviewed the current status of mechanical design for the instrument platform and discussed options for instrument distribution within the current design. The AURA technical representative attended this meeting. Next, there was a meeting of the GMT Board in Canberra, Australia, in which the AURA technical representative participated by videoconference. At this meeting, it was announced that the Korean Astronomy and Space Science Institute had joined GMT as a partner, on behalf of the Korean astronomical community. Finally, there was a general science meeting, “Science with the Giant Magellan Telescope,” also in Canberra. At the end of March 2008, the GMT project sent a white paper to the NSF and AURA, encouraging both to strengthen their efforts to engage community support behind the GSMT concept in advance of the coming 2010 Decadal Survey. The white paper also encouraged NSF and AURA to begin discussions with the GMT project concerning the terms under which a U.S. community share in GMT could be implemented.
3.7 SPO #11 AST-0647604 CTIO RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REU)
The NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates program at CTIO ran through this period. Six students were accommodated this year along with two Chilean students from the parallel CTIO-funded Prácticas de Investigacion en Astronomía program. The activities culminated with each student presenting their research projects to Gemini and CTIO scientific staffs; all presentations were of very high quality. The students will prepare posters and present their projects at the winter 2009 AAS meeting.
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