Announcements 2024

15 February 2024: After intense discussions, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) Scientific and Technical Subcommittee has agreed to include an item on its provisional agenda for the next five years with the title “Dark and Quiet Skies, astronomy and large constellations: addressing emerging issues and challenges”. As the UN’s top body for space-related matters, with delegates from more than 102 countries, COPUOS deals with all topics related to international cooperation and the exploration of space and planetary bodies, including the deployment of satellites, space debris mitigation, the long-term sustainability of space and the use of orbital slots. The proposal, championed by Chile and Spain — both countries hosting significant international astronomy infrastructure — and the astronomy community, received widespread support and was co-signed by several delegations [1]. The International Astronomical Union (IAU), European Southern Observatory (ESO), European Astronomical Society (EAS), and Square Kilometre Array Observatory …

14 February 2024: Project & Science News The fourth in a series of Rubin science releases showcasing Rubin’s upcoming contributions to various areas of astronomy and astrophysics is now available. Read (in English or Spanish) and share “Rubin Observatory will Inspire a New Era in Space Missions without Ever Leaving the Ground,” on rubinobservatory.org. Following the removal of the Primary/Tertiary (M1M3) mirror cell from the Telescope Mount Assembly (TMA) in mid-January, its mass surrogate was re-installed on the TMA to enable dynamic testing towards final verification and closeout of the contract with the Spanish consortium UTE. Meanwhile, the M1M3 cell is now on the maintenance floor of the summit facility where the internal actuator supports and other hardware are being removed in preparation for a final test of the process to coat the mirror. The M1M3 surrogate mirror was washed last week (photo) to prepare for placing it under vacuum in the coating …

13 February 2024: The NOIRLab Ambassador Program, launched in May 2023, aims to increase public engagement with NOIRLab and its Programs, including Vera C. Rubin Observatory Construction, by working together with motivated and enthusiastic volunteers to share our mission and science with new audiences. A major milestone for the program has been achieved with the selection of the first thirty ambassadors! The new ambassadors represent a diverse, personable, creative, and enthusiastic group of individuals with a range of skills who have an interest in promoting NOIRLab’s scientific discoveries, education initiatives, and activities to the public. Over the next 12 months they will contribute to NOIRLab and Rubin in a variety of ways including audiovisual (images and video), music, art (including crafts), education, social media and advocacy for dark skies. In all, seven audiovisual ambassadors, ten social media ambassadors, two music ambassadors, 13 education ambassadors, one dark skies ambassador and two art ambassadors were …

31 January 2024: Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program (ACEAP), in which NSF NOIRLab is a partner. To apply, visit the ACEAP website. This program, now in its ninth year, brings amateur astronomers, planetarium personnel, and formal and informal astronomy educators to US-funded astronomy observatories in Chile, including Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) and the International Gemini Observatory, both Programs of NOIRLab. While there, ambassadors receive behind-the-scenes tours of some of the world’s most productive and advanced telescopes, including in-depth information on their instruments and discoveries. Prior to the ACEAP Expedition, participants engage in professional development activities designed to improve Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) communication and education. The aim of ACEAP is to share the wonders of astronomy with students, the general public, and space enthusiasts, while building awareness of the amazing resources and facilities in Chile and the data they produce that …

26 January 2024: We are sorry to pass on the sad news that John Jefferies, former Director of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO, now NSF NOIRLab), passed away on the evening of 18 January. He was 98. Jefferies served as NOAO’s first Director beginning in 1984 when Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) were united into one entity, serving until 1987. Jefferies’ astronomy roots were in solar physics beginning in his native Australia: specifically in developing the physical understanding of solar flares and radio bursts. After a highly productive research career spent both in Australia and various institutions in the continental US, Jefferies went to the University of Hawai‘i in 1964 to start a solar physics program. At that time, Jefferies also submitted a proposal to NASA on behalf of the University of Hawai‘i to build and operate a telescope to support planetary research. After winning …

25 January 2024: Project & Science News Rubin Observatory leadership and team members joined more than 3000 scientists, students, and astronomy enthusiasts at the American Astronomical Society Winter Meeting (AAS#243) January 7-11 in New Orleans, LA. During the meeting, Rubin hosted an exhibit booth, a well-attended session on Early Science with LSST, and a Town Hall (the slides from the science session and the Town Hall are available on Zenodo). Read more about the meeting in this news post, and view photos in the Gallery. The Survey Cadence Optimization Committee (SCOC) announces “Rubin ToO 2024: Envisioning the Vera C. Rubin Observatory LSST Target of Opportunity program,” a workshop that will take place in Berkeley, CA and online on March 18-20. More information and a link to register are available on the meeting website. On Cerro Pachón last week, the summit team removed the Primary/Tertiary Mirror (M1M3) cell and surrogate mirror from the Telescope …

23 January 2024: We are pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Dahm as the International Gemini Observatory’s Interim Director. Nominated by NOIRLab’s Director Patrick McCarthy and confirmed by the Gemini Board, Dahm will be stepping into his new role in January 2024. Dahm will succeed Jennifer Lotz who has served since 2018 as Director of Gemini. On 12 February 2024, Lotz will begin her five-year appointment as Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). AURA thanks Jennifer Lotz for her excellent tenure as Gemini Director. Dahm is currently the Deputy Director of the International Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF NOIRLab. He has held this position since 9 January 2023. He received his PhD in astronomy from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa under George Herbig, on the study of young stellar clusters. He subsequently served as an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Caltech, a staff astronomer at W. M. Keck Observatory …

17 January 2024: The sixth (January 2024) edition of The NOIRLab Mirror newsletter is now available. This biannual publication focuses on news for the NOIRLab community and showcases the science, technology, and developments across the five NOIRLab Programs: the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the International Gemini Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), and Vera C. Rubin Observatory Operations. The January 2024 issue features a collection of science highlights spanning the breadth of NOIRLab facilities and Programs, a recap of the October 2023 IAU Symposium #385 “Astronomy and Satellite Constellations: Pathways Forward,” the launch of the Cool Neighbors Citizen Science Project, a look back on the 2023 La Serena School for Data Science, an announcement of the International Gemini Observatory’s Long-Range Strategic Vision for the 2030s, an overview of NOIRLab’s public visits program, and much more. The NOIRLab Mirror is free and notifications of the release of …