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26 January 2021: Project & Science News Rubin Observatory participated in the first all-virtual American Astronomical Society Winter Meeting (AAS237) on January 11-16, 2021. Details about the Rubin Open House, exhibit booth, and special sessions can be found in this recent news item. On January 19th, the Rubin Observatory Auxiliary Telescope (AuxTel) team resumed on-sky observations for the first time since the summit construction shutdown in March 2020. Observing Specialist Alysha Shugart, who joined Rubin Observatory in November 2020, participated in this observing run. Craig Lage was also part of the summit team after recently relocating to Chile. The onsite observers were supported by a remote team, allowing minor issues to be identified and solved in real time. Telescope pointing and imaging have now been re-verified and the team has begun to obtain spectral data. See a recent AuxTel image here. The AURA Base Facility in La Serena, Chile, has been completed after …

22 December 2020: Project & Science News This will be the last News Digest for 2020; Rubin Observatory wishes all our colleagues and their families a very happy and relaxing holiday. This year’s holiday card is featured on our website, along with a 2020 in Review news item that highlights the achievements of the past 12 months. Rubin Observatory will be participating in the American Astronomical Society Winter Meeting (AAS237) on January 11-16, 2021. If you’re attending the virtual meeting, we hope you’ll participate in the Rubin Observatory Open House on Tuesday, January 12th from 12:00-1:30 EST. Rubin will also have a virtual exhibit booth, which can be accessed from the meeting exhibit hall. Visit our booth to take a fun quiz, and you might win your very own limited-edition Rubin Observatory swag item. The AAS Meeting will also feature a special Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC) session on Thursday, January 14th at …

9 December 2020: Project & Science News Rubin Observatory now has an official logo! The logo premiered on December 3rd with a press release, social media posts, and announcements on all the Rubin communications channels. The logo is a visual representation of Rubin Observatory’s central purpose: to collect light from celestial objects and transform it into data for scientific discovery. Read more about the logo and its development in this news item. The Rubin Observatory Commissioning Camera (ComCam), arrived safely at the summit facility on November 16th, and has successfully completed functional testing. The ComCam quad box, which contains the utilities necessary to operate the camera, has been integrated with the refrigeration pathfinder, which will allow ComCam to condition and demonstrate the custom-made refrigeration system on the telescope before the LSST Camera is installed. Photos of ComCam in the white room of the summit facility are available in the Gallery. Dome cladding work …

17 November 2020: Project & Science News Construction activity on Cerro Pachón continues to expand, with approximately 40 people working on the summit each day last week. That will increase this week, with the restart of the team installing critical telescope utilities. The contracted team for the dome is now about 20 people who are focused on getting the dome enclosed before the TMA team arrives in January. The dome cladding is going up fast! Photos are available in the Gallery. The Rubin Commissioning Camera (ComCam), which has been at the base facility in La Serena since May because of COVID-19 restrictions on the summit, is scheduled to move to Cerro Pachón this week, where it will be installed on the third level of the summit facility. The team in Chile has been preparing for this move for several weeks and they hope to get ComCam up and running on the summit very …

3 November 2020: Project & Science News The LSSTC Enabling Science 2020 Broker Workshop took place virtually on October 27-28. This workshop brought together representatives of all alert broker development teams, Rubin Observatory staff members, Science Collaborations members, and astronomers who are (or will be) using alert brokers for science. Participants made presentations about broker services and products, and the potential science cases they enable. Breakout discussions covered broker-related tools, algorithms, and catalogs, and strategies for collaboration to solve common issues. All of the slides and video recordings of the presentations are available on the workshop’s website, and some associated discussions appear in the Alerts & Brokers category on Community.lsst.org. A follow-up workshop is being planned for early 2021. The Survey Cadence Optimization Committee (SCOC) recently announced a virtual workshop which will take place on December 8-9, 2020. The SCOC is working to formulate a recommendation for the initial survey strategy by December …

21 October 2020: Project & Science News Last week, at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the LSST Camera team conducted a successful test verifying the clearance between the filters and the shutter as the filter moves from its storage position to its online position. The level of clearance is extremely small to meet the optical design distance between the filter and the L3 lens. The completion of this test is significant for the Rubin Project because it retires some key interface risks for the Camera. Additional tests that will further verify the interoperability of the various Camera components are ongoing. Photos and video of the tests are available in the Gallery. An informative article on how Rubin Observatory and the LSST Camera will advance the study of dark matter, titled “A Powerful New Tool to Study the Cosmos,” was published in Symmetry Magazine on October 13th. Read the article at this link. Limited construction …

6 October 2020: Project & Science News A productive meeting of the AURA Management Council for Rubin Observatory (AMCR), AURA’s oversight and advocacy committee for Rubin, took place virtually on September 23-24. The report from the committee was submitted to the Rubin management team shortly after the meeting, allowing the leadership team to efficiently begin addressing the committee’s recommendations. Limited construction activities resumed on Cerro Pachón on September 28th, coinciding with the easing of the quarantine restrictions for the La Serena area, and following a thorough review to ensure that summit work could resume safely. Work will ramp up gradually over the next few months to ensure the team has time to re-adapt to working on the summit, and to adjust to the new COVID-19 protocols and procedures that are now in place. During the first week of the restart, a team of approximately 15 to 20 individuals worked on the summit for …

23 September 2020: Project & Science News The first images taken by the LSST Camera at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory received lots of attention from the media and the public after a press release announcing the milestone was issued by SLAC on September 8th. A web viewer for the images that was included with the press release received almost eight million hits in a 24-hour period, and the Romanesco image was by far the most popular! On September 11th, Rubin Observatory participated in a thorough audit and review with AURA and NOIRLab to determine whether planned “Phase 1” work activities can safely be restarted on Cerro Pachón. These include limited construction activities for Rubin Observatory and limited science operations for the existing observatories. The plans have been carefully developed by members of the technical, management, and safety teams over several months to establish the highest level of safety for those involved in the …

8 September 2020: Project & Science News The LSST Camera team at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has released the first 3200-megapixel digital images taken using the Camera’s full array of imaging sensors. These are the largest images ever captured in single shots, and they are a successful test of the Rubin LSST Camera’s focal plane, which was completed at SLAC in January 2020. An overview is provided in this news item, which includes a link to the images and more details about this exciting achievement. A National Science Foundation (NSF)/Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Status Review took place virtually August 31st - September 4th. Members of the review panel congratulated the Project for good progress made before the COVID-19 construction shutdown, and commented that management has done an admirable job of identifying COVID-19 impacts to the Project and planning accordingly. The review committee noted that prior recommendations have been adequately addressed, and presented …

18 August 2020: Project & Science News Rubin Observatory's very first virtual Project and Community Workshop (PCW) took place August 10-14, 2020, and it was a resounding success. The all-online format allowed more people to participate in this year’s workshop than ever before; a total of 706 people registered for meeting, which featured plenaries, breakout sessions, and even a social activity with virtual board games. Rubin colleagues in Chile also presented daily in Spanish for all interested participants; topics included specific parts of the project where hands-on work is performed by teams in Chile. Read more about the week’s activities in this news post. A mandatory quarantine was declared in the La Serena/Coquimbo region starting July 29th. An end date was not announced, but the order will be reviewed weekly. The quarantine affects Rubin activities on the summit; although Rubin staff still has permission to perform equipment and facility inspections, we are limited …

28 July 2020: Project & Science News The Rubin 2020 Project and Community Workshop (PCW) is right around the corner, (August 10-14), and there are currently 350 people registered—a new record! If you haven’t registered yet please do so as soon as possible on the meeting website. Rubin Observatory Project staff participated in a Joint Directors Review during the week of July 20-24, in preparation for the Joint Status Review scheduled for August 31-September 3rd. The review committee complimented the progress made by the Project up to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and commented favorably on the Project’s modifications and plans to address issues related to the COVID delay. A group photo from the review is available in the Gallery. The Rubin Observatory/LSST Science Collaborations will host a two-day hackathon on Aug 6-7, immediately before the Rubin 2020 PCW (Aug 10-14). The goal of the hackathon will be to kickstart work on …

14 July 2020: Project & Science News The schedule for this year’s Rubin Observatory Project and Community Workshop (Rubin 2020), to be held virtually August 10-14, is now available at this link. This year we’ll have “Rubin flash talks” in place of posters. If you’re interested in giving one of these then please make sure you register by July 24th. Vera Rubin’s birthday is July 23rd, and the Rubin Observatory Communications team is planning a social media celebration in her honor! Keep an eye on Rubin social media accounts, especially twitter (#BirthdayVeraRubin), for fun facts, trivia questions, and even some music. Links to Rubin social media accounts can be found on the Rubin Observatory website (in the bottom right corner). The Satellite Constellations 1 (SATCON1) workshop, facilitated by NOIRLab and AAS with support from NSF, took place virtually June 29-July 2. Four members of the Rubin Observatory Project gave presentations at the workshop: …

30 June 2020: Project & Science News Registration is now open for this year’s Project and Community Workshop (Rubin 2020), to be held virtually on August 10-14. More than 200 people have already registered for the event, and the agenda is close to being finalized. Visit this link for the most up-to-date information about the workshop. On Wednesday, June 10th, a day designated to Strike for Black Lives, many Rubin Observatory Project & Operations members paused their normal work activities and participated in deep discussions about Black representation and equality in our community. These discussions have continued with the goal of creating and implementing a meaningful action plan. A Town Hall (date TBA) is currently being planned; this event will provide a safe space for all to connect with one another to discuss ways that Rubin Observatory can be better at including and advocating for Black people. More information about the Town Hall …

9 June 2020: Project & Science News The Rubin Observatory Project leadership team released a statement on June 3rd in response to the ongoing protests against racial injustice. Rubin Observatory condemns discrimination and racism, and is committed to supporting diversity. Read the full statement on our website. On May 14th, the IT group in La Serena, Chile, enabled the utilization of internal routed traffic in Rubin Observatory's Long Haul Network. This means that a group of clusters, along with Commissioning Camera forwarders deployed at the base, will use this dedicated link to transfer data when the destination is the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). This work marks an important milestone towards the completion of the Network baseline of Rubin Observatory. Photos are available in the Gallery. A regular inspection of the Cerro Pachón construction site took place on May 26th. This visit included more work on the Dome and a detailed inspection …

19 May 2020: Project & Science News Planning is underway for virtual Rubin Observatory Project and Community activities that will take place the week of August 10-14, 2020 (in place of the in-person Workshop). Please keep these dates reserved on your calendar, and watch for more information coming soon. Rubin Observatory has released an updated report on the evolving satellite constellation issue, detailing the work being done jointly by Rubin Observatory and SpaceX exploring different mitigation strategies. The updated report is available at this link. An article on the subject also appeared in the New York Times on May 6th. Limited work activities resumed on the LSST Camera at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory during the week of May 11th, with one person permitted in the Camera workspace to start preparing for the restart of the refrigeration system. In France, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has been lifted and IN2P3 is expected to conduct a …

5 May 2020: Project & Science News Closures are still in effect for key Rubin Observatory locations, including the summit construction site. However, in compliance with local regulations, the Rubin team has been able to keep up with some essential activities to ensure our sites are secure. These activities are being completed with safety of staff members as the first priority. In parallel, the Project leadership team is working on plans to restart construction activities safely and in a phased way once it is deemed safe to do so. The plans will focus on priority technical areas but will also comply with government orders as well as health and safety department guidelines. All efforts will be coordinated with AURA and SLAC for an organized and safe return to construction. Updated information on details related to the COVID-19 pandemic and answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found at this link. An NSF/DOE Quarterly …

21 April 2020: Project & Science News Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Rubin Observatory Project & Community Workshop, (PCW) planned for August 10-14, has been cancelled. At the workshop we planned to celebrate both our new name and the 10th anniversary of the 2010 Decadal Survey ranking LSST number one as the highest priority in ground-based astronomy. We will now postpone this celebration to 2021. The Project and Operations teams are also looking at alternative opportunities to engage with the community this year (the week of August 10-14), and further updates will be coming soon. Also because of COVID-19 disruptions, the due date for community broker proposals will be extended for at least six months, with a due date no earlier than December 15th, 2020. The Rubin Observatory Science Advisory Committee (SAC) will provide further updates on the status of the Call on or before June 15th. By that time the …

7 April 2020: Project & Science News The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Rubin Observatory construction. The summit shutdown is still in effect and has halted all activity there including work on the Telescope Mount Assembly (TMA), and the Dome. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is also still closed, preventing work on the Camera. When safe conditions permit the facilities to re-open, Project leadership will work with the team to transition back to full construction, as well as with our funding agencies, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Energy (DOE), to re-baseline the Project. Answers to frequently asked questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Rubin Observatory have been posted on the website. Project members should log in to view additional questions and answers that pertain to staff. Please note: Daylight Saving Time in Chile ended on Saturday April 4th, and clocks there moved back an hour. If …

24 March 2020: Project & Science News The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Project activities. As a preventative measure, construction activities on Cerro Pachón have been shut down, and the site secured as safely as possible given the incomplete condition of the facility. Staff are now teleworking, and will focus on advancing any elements of the Project possible. The Base Facility in La Serena and the Project headquarters in Tucson, AZ, are also closed with staff teleworking. Updates on the evolving situation are available here. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has closed completely, with all staff teleworking, for an initial period of three weeks. Work on the LSST Camera is suspended while the facility is closed; updates on the closure will be posted on the SLAC website. Rubin Observatory Chief Scientist Tony Tyson briefed the United States Congress on March 11, 2020, on the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy. His presentation, which is …

10 March 2020: Project & Science News Double-check your clocks and your calendars—Daylight Saving Time returned to most of the US on Sunday, March 8th. Rubin Observatory uses Pacific Time as official project time, which means that many standing meeting times will change for staff in Tucson and Chile. Please check with meeting coordinators to confirm start times, especially for meetings involving staff at multiple locations. An updated review on the impact of constellation satellites on Rubin Observatory science, including possible mitigation strategies, has been prepared by Chief Scientist Tony Tyson and Deputy Director Zeljko Ivezic, with the input of the Project Science Team and the Rubin Observatory/LSST Science Collaborations. The review is now available at this link. The Rubin Observatory Algorithms Workshop, originally scheduled for March 17-19 in Princeton, NJ, has been modified to be an all-virtual event. This decision was made in light of travel uncertainties and risks related to the …