Science Collaboration Opportunities with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) invites the US astronomy and physics communities to take part in shaping the science of the LSST through membership in LSST Science Collaborations. Applicants may request to join an existing collaboration or propose to form a new collaboration.

What is the LSST? Over the course of ten years, the LSST will perform a six-wavelength, multi-epoch optical survey of half the visible sky, providing major new opportunities for studies of dark energy and dark matter via studies of gravitational lensing, distant supernovae, and the large-scale distribution of galaxies. The LSST will also enable large surveys that explore the structure and stellar populations of the Milky Way, search for faint solar system objects, and detect optical transients, among other topics. The LSST will cover the sky with an unprecedented combination of speed and depth. The Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey (Astro2010) ranked the LSST as the top priority for large-scale ground-based programs. More information about the LSST and its science goals can be found at http://www.lsst.org.

The Science Collaborations are opening their membership to the US science community to help develop and document the science opportunities provided by the LSST, finalize the design of the system and observing strategy, undertake end-to-end simulations, commission instrument and data management systems, and ultimately perform science analyses. The collaborations are intended to work closely with the LSST construction project, although they are autonomous ventures.

Those who wish to join an existing collaboration, or initiate a new collaboration, are invited to submit proposals. These will be reviewed by an independent panel of astronomers and physicists coordinated by NOAO, with input from the collaborations on applications specific to their group. Further details and information are available at: http://www.noao.edu/lsst/collab_prop/Scicollab.htm (Note: this link is no longer available).

Please read the guidelines carefully. Successful applicants must demonstrate a commitment to helping to develop the LSST observational program. The application deadline is 14 October 2011. Those proposing to form a new collaboration are requested to submit a letter of intent to apply that briefly describes the scientific topic and proposed membership. Please send letters of intent to mhartman@noao.edu by 16 September 2011. Questions may be addressed to Tod R. Lauer at lauer@noao.edu.