Taking the Measure of the Universe: Precision Astrometry with SIM
Accepted for publication in PASP, January 2008 issue A Preprint typeset using LTEX style emulateapj v. 08/22/09 TAKING THE MEASURE OF THE UNIVERSE: PRECISION ASTROMETRY WITH SIM PLANETQUEST Stephen C. Unwin1, Michael Shao2, Angelle M. Tanner2, Ronald J. Allen3, Charles A. Beichman4, David Boboltz5, Joseph H. Catanzarite2, Brian C. Chaboyer6, David R. Ciardi4, Stephen J. Edberg2, Alan L. Fey5, Debra A. Fischer7, Christopher R. Gelino8, Andrew P. Gould9, Carl Grillmair8, Todd J. Henry10, Kathryn V. Johnston11,12, Kenneth J. Johnston5, Dayton L. Jones2, Shrinivas R. Kulkarni4, Nicholas M. Law4, Steven R. Majewski13, Valeri V. Makarov2, Geoffrey W. Marcy14, David L. Meier2, Rob P. Olling15, Xiaopei Pan2, Richard J. Patterson13, Jo Eliza Pitesky2, Andreas Quirrenbach16, Stuart B. Shaklan2, Edward J. Shaya15, Louis E. Strigari17, John A. Tomsick18,19, Ann E. Wehrle20, and Guy Worthey21 Accepted for publication in PASP, January 2008 issue ABSTRACT Precision astrometry at microarcsecond accuracy has application to a wide range of astrophysical problems. This paper is a study of the science questions that can be addressed using an instrument with flexible scheduling that delivers parallaxes at about 4 microarcsec (µas) on targets as faint as V = 20, and differential accuracy of 0.6 µas on bright targets. The science topics are drawn primarily from the Team Key Projects, selected in 2000, for the Space Interferometry Mission PlanetQuest (SIM PlanetQuest). We use the capabilities of this mission to illustrate the importance of the next level of astrometric precision in modern astrophysics. SIM PlanetQuest is currently in the detailed design phase, having completed in 2005 all of the enabling technologies needed for the flight instrument.
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