Letters of Intent received in 2013

LoI 2015-200
Which future for electromagnetic Astronomy: Ground Based vs Space Borne Large Astrophysical Facility

Date: 4 August 2015 to 8 August 2015
Category: Non-GA Symposium
Location: Honolulu, United States
Contact: Ubertini Pietro (pietro.ubertini@iaps.inaf.it)
Coordinating division: Division B Facilities, Technologies and Data Science
Other divisions: Division A Fundamental Astronomy
Division B Facilities, Technologies and Data Science
Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage
Division D High Energy Phenomena and Fundamental Physics
Division E Sun and Heliosphere
Division F Planetary Systems and Astrobiology
Division G Stars and Stellar Physics
Division H Interstellar Matter and Local Universe
Division J Galaxies and Cosmology
Co-Chairs of SOC: Pietro (Ubertini)
David (Silva)
Chair of LOC: ()

 

Topics

The combined use of large ground based facilities and large space observatories is playing a key role in the advance of astrophysics by providing access to the entire electromagnetic spectrum from the allowing high sensitivity observations from the lower radio wavelength to the higher energy gamma rays.

It is nowadays clear that forward steps in the understanding of the Universe evolution and large scale structure formation is essential and only possible with the combined use of multiwavelength imaging and spectral high resolution instruments.

 

Rationale

The increasing size, complexity and cost of large space observatories places a growing emphasis on international collaboration. If the present set of space and ground-based astronomy facilities is impressive and complete, with nicely complementary space and ground based telescopes, the scenario becomes worrisome and critical in the next two decades. In fact, only a few ‘Large’ main space missions are planned and there is a need to ensure proper ground facility coverage: the synergy Ground-Space is not escapable in the timeframe 2020-2013.

One more relevant topic worth to be discussed is the usually large data volume and complexity. This is also an issue with much common challenges and interests in the years ahead.

The scope of the proposed symposium/scientific meeting, among the 2015 IAU GA is to review the current Astronomical instrumentation panorama, both from ground and space view, also in view of the recent major national agencies and international bodies programmatic decisions.

This Scientific Event will be a unique opportunity to review the current situation and discuss the future perspectives taking advantage of the large audience ensured by the IAU GA.

We estimate a three-day meeting will be necessary to review the operative and future instrumentation covering the (almost) whole electromagnetic spectrum, with the following sessions preliminary planned:

-Radio: LOFAR, SKA, etc
-FIR and Ir: ALMA, JWSR, SPICA, etc
-Visible: LSST,ELT, Gemini, TMT, etc
-UV: HST, Galex, etc
-X-Ray: XMM, CHANDRA, INTEGRAL, SWIFT, NUSTAR, ATHENA+ etc
-Gamma-ray: HESS, MAGIC, VERITAS, FERMI, etc
-Very high energy: CTA, Pierre Auger, etc
-Data throughtput, collection, analysis, storage etc
-Future prospects

The meeting will be of interest for most of the IAU Divisions

Best Regards

Pietro Ubertini & Davis Silva