Massively multiplexed spectroscopy with MSE: Science, Project and Vision

Update Feb 05 2019: Late registration is still open. Abstract submission is now closed, and hotel bookings are available at the regular, not discounted, rates. Update, 18 January 2019: The MSE meeting is proceeding as scheduled for 26-28 February 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. The registration, hotel and abstract deadlines are being extended until Saturday 02 February 2019. Notifications regarding travel support requests will be sent out by 25 January 2019.

Massively multiplexed spectroscopy with MSE: Science, Project and Vision will take place Tuesday 26 - Thursday 28 February 2019 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Tucson Reid Park, in Tucson, Arizona (click the image to download the poster). It will be hosted by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) in collaboration with the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE) and Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT).

The Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer is a planned 11.25m, wide-field, optical and near-infrared facility completely dedicated to multi-object spectroscopy of samples of between thousands and millions of astrophysical objects. It will observe at a wide range of spectral resolutions, from R2500 to R40,000, with massive multiplexing (4,332 spectra per exposure, with all spectral resolutions available at all times). With these unrivalled capabilities, MSE will collect a number of spectra equivalent to an entire SDSS Legacy Survey every eight weeks. It will provide essential optical and near-infrared spectroscopic follow-up for millions of faint sources identified in Gaia, LSST, WFIRST, SKA, the ngVLA and many other next generation surveys.

This meeting comes at an important stage in MSE development. The Conceptual Design for the Observatory is complete and recently published in the MSE Book 2018. The Preliminary Design Phase engineering work is getting underway. The Detailed Science Case will have just been updated by the Science Team and the Design Reference Surveys will be starting. Many international communities are starting the development of longer-term strategic planning exercises in which MSE and its capabilities will be considered within the emerging international network of astronomical facilities.

The meeting will be a chance to:

• showcase recent science developments from MSE’s Science Working Groups;
• review the status of the overall engineering design and partnership at the start of the Preliminary Design Phase;
• present, workshop, and discuss science planning needs and strategies;
• advocate for priorities in scientific and technical capabilities;
• discuss and develop the operational concept; and
• begin work on the next engineering and science phases.

The meeting will include both plenary and breakout-style sessions. It will be open to the entire international astronomy/instrumentation community, with preference given to current members of the MSE science and engineering teams (in the case of limited capacity).

Attendees may apply for subsidized dependent care services during the meeting, for use either at the meeting location or at home. For more information on child care grant/support, please contact the organizing committee.

If you are not a citizen of the United States, please remember to consult your travel agent to ask if you require a visa, and for assistance in obtaining one. Should you need an official letter of invitation to the meeting to complete your visa application, please contact Laurie Phillips (lphillips@noao.edu), and be sure to include a template for the letter, or specific information requested for the letter.