Optimization of the Observing Cadence for the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time: A Pioneering Process of Community-focused Experimental Design

Federica B. Bianco, Željko Ivezić, R. Lynne Jones, Melissa L. Graham, Phil Marshall, Abhijit Saha, Michael A. Strauss, Peter Yoachim, Tiago Ribeiro, Timo Anguita, A. E. Bauer, Franz E. Bauer, Eric C. Bellm, Robert D. Blum, William N. Brandt, Sarah Brough, Márcio Catelan, William I. Clarkson, Andrew J. Connolly, Eric GawiserJohn E. Gizis, Renée Hložek, Sugata Kaviraj, Charles T. Liu, Michelle Lochner, Ashish A. Mahabal, Rachel Mandelbaum, Peregrine McGehee, Eric H. Neilsen Jr., Knut A. G. Olsen, Hiranya V. Peiris, Jason Rhodes, Gordon T. Richards, Stephen Ridgway, Megan E. Schwamb, Dan Scolnic, Ohad Shemmer, Colin T. Slater, Anže Slosar, Stephen J. Smartt, Jay Strader, Rachel Street, David E. Trilling, Aprajita Verma, A. K. Vivas, Risa H. Wechsler, Beth Willman

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Abstract

Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a ground-based astronomical facility under construction, a joint project of the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, designed to conduct a multipurpose 10 yr optical survey of the Southern Hemisphere sky: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Significant flexibility in survey strategy remains within the constraints imposed by the core science goals of probing dark energy and dark matter, cataloging the solar system, exploring the transient optical sky, and mapping the Milky Way. The survey’s massive data throughput will be transformational for many other astrophysics domains and Rubin’s data access policy sets the stage for a huge community of potential users. To ensure that the survey science potential is maximized while serving as broad a community as possible, Rubin Observatory has involved the scientific community at large in the process of setting and refining the details of the observing strategy. The motivation, history, and decision-making process of this strategy optimization are detailed in this paper, giving context to the science-driven proposals and recommendations for the survey strategy included in this Focus Issue.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages15
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume258
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Dec 2021

Keywords

  • 370
  • Laboratory Astrophysics, Instrumentation, Software, and Data
  • Rubin LSST Survey Strategy Optimization

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