Science with the wht Priorities for the 2010-2020 decade

Marc Balcells, ING

WELCOME TO THE WHT WELCOME TO THE WHT WORKSHOPWORKSHOP Goals: To empower ING User Communities for

defining ING’s future

To obtain guidance from users in the current transition in 2012, end of International Agreements for Astronomy in the Canary Islands

To shape future of our organisation after recent UK, EU reviews

Previous planning exercises, Previous planning exercises, UK, EUUK, EU 2007 UK Programatic Review

2009 UK Ground Based Facilities Review Panel GBFR, MRR report

2009 STFC Near-Universe, Far-Universe panels NUAP, FUAP

2010 European Telescope Strategy Review Committee ETSRC, Janet Drew report

ING in STFC Dec 2009 ING in STFC Dec 2009 prioritisationprioritisation ING covered til 2012 as per the

Canary Islands International Agreements

After 2012 future is open –

➥Ensuring need for WHT in coming decade

➥Finding a satisfactory operation agreement

Working for ING’s futureWorking for ING’s future…… ING senior astronomers

ING Science Advisory Committee

ING Board

ING strategy notes: http://www.ing.iac.es/About-ING/Strategy/decadal_strategy_2010_2020.html

BBut the final word belongs to ut the final word belongs to

YOUYOU ING to continue only if users

say/show they need ING Direct input from users on

instrument priorities, modes of operation

InstrumentationInstrumentation What current instruments are most

useful for your science Is new instrumentation needed Priority shift from AO to WF WF astronomy

Spectroscopy? Imaging? Optical vs NIR High vs mid spectral resolution

Wide Field Astronomy @ Wide Field Astronomy @ ETSRCETSRCETSRC Report, Executive Summary:

A key feature [ … ] is the construction of a massive-multiplex wide field spectrograph for a 4-m telescope […]In the north, the WHT appears to be the best choice on account of it having the largest available primary mirror.

ETSRC Report, Sect. 3.4:

Another attractive possibility is a new WF NIR imager using the full field of view at the prime focus of WHT or CAHA 3.5m telescopes. [ … ] enable observations beyond the +60o declination limit of UKIRT [ … ] a large part of the Perseus Arm [ … ] M81 and M82. [ … ] supplement UKIRT, CFHT and VISTA, [ … ] all sky coverage, [ … ] 4-5 magnitudes fainter than 2MASS.

Our Our Science priorities of WF Science priorities of WF spectroscopyspectroscopy A sought outcome from this meeting: Gauge science interest for WF

spectroscopy at WHT Classical science cases for WF MOS:

1. Cosmology redshift surveys – BAO etc2. GAIA follow-up

Radial velocities Chemical tagging

3. Galaxy evolution Each different instrumental requirements

If If WF MOS a priorityWF MOS a priority ING will

Create science team for science case Create instrument team to develop

instrument proposal

Goal is proposal submitted Dec 2010 Instrument could be ready 2016 Tuesday session: start core science

team

WF capabilities at WHT PFWF capabilities at WHT PFOptical design, Tibor Agòcs

Presentation, Day-2 session

FOV up to 2 deg diameter

Important mechanical changes at top end

Classical observing vs survey Classical observing vs survey workwork Current, WHT largely classical

observing Should we increase the fraction of

time devoted to surveys By how much: 20%? 50%? 70%?

Visitor instrument programVisitor instrument program Program successful to date

ExPo, FastCam, GHaFaS, PlanetPol, PNS, SAURON, Ultracam

Does the community want this to continue

More in ETSRC reportMore in ETSRC report Rationalisation of instruments Reducing night support at telescope Mechanisms for training students, aka

INT INT; IDS @ INT EU-wide open telescope access Common TAC

Are we willing to give up our national TACs

The upcoming HARPS-NEF The upcoming HARPS-NEF instrumentinstrument Stabilised echelle spectrograph

R>100,000 Private instrument (Harvard-Geneva)

Kepler field survey follow-up 2011 – 2014

Open access through national TACs Plan on using HARPS yourself

Workshop formatWorkshop format•Day 1:•Talks•Discussions•Lunch break

12:30 – 13:25 Posters

•Final Discussion period•Vacate room 16:55 sharp

Day 2: Analyse science

focus of any prevailing new instrument proposed in day 1 (Lecture Theatre,

RAS) Who is planning to

come tomorrow:

LOC AnnouncementsLOC Announcements WIFI available in room

Netwrk: Geological-Basement

Psswd: sediment

Speakers bring your talk on pen-drive

PC, Mac, project ppt, pptx, pdf

We are videorecording talks and discussions

Questions: please write them down, hand to LOC member

SoSo… enjoy the run! … enjoy the run!