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At least 73 records · Page 4

Restoration, Enhancement, and Distribution of the ATLAS-1 Imaging Spectrometric Observatory (ISO) Space Science Data Set

The primary goal of the funded task was to restore and distribute the ISO ATLAS-1 space science data set with enhanced software and database utilities. The first year was primarily dedicated to physically transferring the data from its original format to its initial CD archival format. The remainder of the first year was devoted to the verification of the restored data set and database. The second year was devoted to the enhancement of the data set, especially the development of IDL utilities and redesign of the database and search interface as needed. This period was also devoted to distribution of the rescued data set, principally the creation and maintenance of a web interface to the data set. The final six months was dedicated to working with NSSDC to create a permanent, off site, hive of the data set and supporting utilities. This time was also used to resolve last minute quality and design issues.

Germany, G. A.

Astrophysics science operations in the Great Observatories era

Plans for Astrophysics science operations during the decade of the nineties are described from the point of view of a scientist who wishes to make a space-borne astronomical observation or to use archival astronomical data. 'Science Operations' include the following: proposal preparation, observation planning and execution, data collection, data processing and analysis, and dissemination of results. For each of these areas of science operations, we derive technology requirements for the next ten to twenty years. The scientist will be able to use a variety of services and infrastructure, including the 'Astrophysics Data System.' The current status and plans for these science operations services are described.

Riegler, Guenter R.

RTN-011: Rubin Observatory Plans for an Early Science Program

This document outlines Rubin Observatory's plans for a dedicated \emph{Early Science Program} to enable high-impact science prior to the first annual data release of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Components of the Early Science Program include releasing science-grade commissioning data products via a series of ``Data Previews,'' ramping up of the transient alert stream during commissioning, implementing a program of incremental template generation to augment alert production in the early phases of the survey, and the first LSST Data Release, DR1, based on the first 6 months of data from the LSST. A detailed breakdown of which data products can be expected when is provided. The Rubin Operations team is working closely with the science community to optimize the Early Science Program for the time-domain and solar system science achievable in the first year of operations. This is a living document; both it and the Early Science Program will continue to evolve over the course of commissioning and pre-operations in response to the state of the as-built system and to community guidance.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS

A Tutorial Set to Prepare for Science with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory

In this poster the Rubin Observatory's Community Science team (CST) presents its current suite of tutorials, which are designed to help people make use of simulated data sets in preparation for the upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). We will show examples of the tutorial contents, provide custom learning modules for different astronomical fields, and describe the online environment for data analysis (the Rubin Science Platform; RSP). We will also supply a checklist for how to obtain an RSP account and access the tutorials. All are welcome to drop by the poster or the Rubin booth in the exhibit hall with questions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS

The Multiview Observatory for Solar Terrestrial Science (MOST)

Understanding the emergence of magnetic flux from the solar interior through the photosphere and its global impact on the inner heliosphere is a key scientific goal of the heliophysics community. This white paper outlines the concept of the Multiview Observatory for Solar Terrestrial Science (MOST) mission, which will make measurements of solar variability from the solar interior, atmosphere, and the interplanetary (IP) medium. MOST will be a 4- spacecraft mission with one each at L4 (MOST1) and L5 (MOST2) and the other two (MOST3 and MOST4) at variable locations along Earth orbit. MOST1 and MOST2 will each carry seven remote-sensing and 3 in-situ instruments. All four spacecraft will carry a novel radio package known as the Faraday Effect Tracker of Coronal and Heliospheric structures (FETCH) that will systematically probe the magnetic content of transient IP structures including coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and stream interaction regions (SIRs). The Faraday rotation measurements will provide magnetic content of these structures at various heliocentric distances from the outer corona to Earth’s vicinity. Photospheric and/or chromospheric magnetograms will cover >70% of the solar surface providing synchronic maps needed for accurately modeling the corona and solar wind. EUV, coronagraph, radio spectrograph, and heliospheric imager (HI) observations from multiple viewpoints provide 3-d information on CMEs/CME-driven shocks, SIRs, and other solar wind structures. Hard X-ray imagers will provide the flare aspects of solar eruptions to complement the CME aspects. MOST, a 10-year mission, is well aligned with NASA’s Heliophysics objectives and will provide an unprecedented opportunity to achieve these objectives with broad participation from the heliophysics community.

N. Gopalswamy

Grand Observatory

Various concepts have been recently presented for a 100 m class astronomical observatory. The science virtues of such an observatory are many: resolving planets orbiting around other stars, resolving the surface features of other stars, extending our temporal reach back toward the beginning (at and before stellar and galactic development), improving on the Next Generation Space Telescope, and other (perhaps as yet) undiscovered purposes. This observatory would be a general facility instrument with wide spectral range from at least the near ultraviolet to the mid infrared. The concept espoused here is based on a practical, modular design located in a place where temperatures remain (and instruments could operate) within several degrees of absolute zero with no shielding or cooling. This location is the bottom of a crater located near the north or south pole of the moon, most probably the South Polar Depression. In such a location the telescope would never see the sun or the earth, hence the profound cold and absence of stray light. The ideal nature of this location is elaborated herein. It is envisioned that this observatory would be assembled and maintained remotely through the use of expert robotic systems. A base station would be located above the crater rim with (at least occasional) direct line-of-sight access to the earth. Certainly it would be advantageous, but not absolutely essential, to have humans travel to the site to deal with unexpected contingencies. Further, observers and their teams could eventually travel there for extended observational campaigns. Educational activities, in general, could be furthered thru extended human presence. Even recreational visitors and long term habitation might follow.

Young, Eric W.

Design of a Lunar Farside Observatory

The design of a mantendable lunar farside observatory and science base is presented. A farside observatory will allow high accuracy astronomical observations, as well as the opportunity to perform geological and low gravity studies on the Moon. The requirements of the observatory and its support facilities are determined, and a preliminary timeline for the project development is presented. The primary areas of investigation include observatory equipment, communications, habitation, and surface operations. Each area was investigated to determine the available options, and each option was evaluated to determine the advantages and disadvantages. The options selected for incorporation into the design of the farside base are presented. The observatory equipment deemed most suitable for placement on the lunar farside consist of large optical and radio arrays and seismic equipment. A communications system consisting of a temporary satellite about the L sub 2 libration point and followed by a satellite at the stable L sub 5 libration point was selected. A space station common module was found to be the most practical option for housing the astronauts at the base. Finally, a support system based upon robotic construction vehicles and the use of lunar materials was determined to be a necessary component of the base.

Source record

Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): Overview of Science Objectives, Instrument Design, Data Products, and Model Developments

The highly variable solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation is the major energy input to the Earth's upper atmosphere, strongly impacting the geospace environment, affecting satellite operations, communications, and navigation. The Extreme ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) onboard the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) will measure the solar EUV irradiance from 0.1 to 105 nm with unprecedented spectral resolution (0.1 nm), temporal cadence (ten seconds), and accuracy (20%). EVE includes several irradiance instruments: The Multiple EUV Grating Spectrographs (MEGS)-A is a grazingincidence spectrograph that measures the solar EUV irradiance in the 5 to 37 nm range with 0.1-nm resolution, and the MEGS-B is a normal-incidence, dual-pass spectrograph that measures the solar EUV irradiance in the 35 to 105 nm range with 0.1-nm resolution. To provide MEGS in-flight calibration, the EUV SpectroPhotometer (ESP) measures the solar EUV irradiance in broadbands between 0.1 and 39 nm, and a MEGS-Photometer measures the Sun s bright hydrogen emission at 121.6 nm. The EVE data products include a near real-time space-weather product (Level 0C), which provides the solar EUV irradiance in specific bands and also spectra in 0.1-nm intervals with a cadence of one minute and with a time delay of less than 15 minutes. The EVE higher-level products are Level 2 with the solar EUV irradiance at higher time cadence (0.25 seconds for photometers and ten seconds for spectrographs) and Level 3 with averages of the solar irradiance over a day and over each one-hour period. The EVE team also plans to advance existing models of solar EUV irradiance and to operationally use the EVE measurements in models of Earth s ionosphere and thermosphere. Improved understanding of the evolution of solar flares and extending the various models to incorporate solar flare events are high priorities for the EVE team.

Woods, T. N.

Chandra: Ten Years of Amazing Science with a Great Observatory

We review briefly review the history of the development of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, highlighting certain details that many attendees of this Conference might not be aware of. We then present a selection of scientific highlights of the first 10 years of this remarkable and unique mission.

Weisskopf, Martin C.

Cryogenic Technologies for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Science Instruments

This work was performed at the request of the Program Chief Engineer for Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). The intended audience for this position paper is the prospective SOFIA Science Instrument (SI) developer, who may not have extensive experience with cryogenics or cryostat design. The objective is to provide an introductory handbook that (1) concisely summarizes SOFIA requirements, (2) describes components and techniques that enable cryostats to reach temperatures ranging from 4 K to 50 mK, and (3) warns of common pitfalls that an SI developer might encounter.

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy