Report of 57th meeting of SAC
Victoria, B.C., May 6,7 2000
The meeting was attended by SAC members Hutchings, Cuby, Bohlender, Wainscoat, Tonry, Beuzit, and Bastien. Soucail, Lilly, and Pierre were unable to attend, but submitted memos and/or were contacted by phone. CFHT were represented by Fahlman, Salmon, and Veillet. Several HIA astronomers attended the open sessions, and BOD chair Hesser was present at all agenda discussions.
The agenda are listed below, and the report covers topics in the order of the agenda. Some presentation and background materials are included at the end of the report.
Saturday May 6
1. CFHT status and technical report (Salmon, Veillet)
particularly
status/schedule for CFHTIR, Megaprime, primary support
2. MegaCam survey working group report (Veillet, Wainscoat, Lilly)
3. Trends in CFHT proposals, engineering time (CTAC, CFGT, UH, CFHT)
4. CFHT proposal submission deadlines (CTAC, CFHT)
5. CFHT archive report (CADC)
6. Terapix report (if available)
7. Queue Scheduling and Service Observing (CFHT)
8. 12K data and calibration issues (CADC, CFHT)
9. IR working group; WIRCAM designs from UH, UM (Beuzit, CFHT)
10. Instrument priorities and plans (OSIS, FILAO, PUEO upgrade, actions from last meeting)
11. TAC/scheduling meeting
Sunday May 7
12. CFHT replacement study contracts and associated activities (Fahlman)
13. KAO and Taiwan partnerships (Fahlman)
14. WIRCAM plans and funding (CFHT)
15. CFHT Celebration meeting program and speakers, next SAC meeting
SAC discussed the progress report from the MegaCam Survey Working Group, which covers policies regarding survey data, program selection, filters required, and the total observing time needed. These are in direct response to the guidelines given in the SAC report of the 56th meeting, in October 1999. The SAC has the following comments.
SAC is pleased that the MSWG has made some
progress, but notes that more work is desirable by the next SAC meeting.
SAC and CFHT note that the group reports through SAC in establishing
the survey programs, and reporting their progress. However, the MSWG should
prepare some reports for a public web site, after SAC and CFHT approval.
The present report is very much work in progress and is not suitable for
general distribution. SAC, in consultation with CFHT, has the following
comments on points raised in the report.
SAC was given a tour of the CADC and given a detailed discussion by D. Schade, of the CFHT archive use and what is needed to improve its value.
Some statistics concerning the CFHT archive are as follows:
- CADC users: 650 in 1997, 871 in 1998, 1170 in 1999 (mostly US and Canada)
- Data: 215000 datasets (compared with 160000 for HST)
- Data size: 1989-1999 300 Gbytes, 1999-2000 3000 Gbytes (with CFHT12K)
- CFHT archive queries: 4000 in 1998, 25000 in 1999, 9000 in 2000
- CFHT archive data requests: 120 to 150 over years 1997-2000 (year 2000 data pro-rated). 15% of the total datasets have been retrieved in the past 3 years, or 1/3 of the average annual CFHT data production.
- CADC has no data on optical media since Feb. 1997. 90% of the CFHT data resides only on tape, and is at risk.
7. Queue Scheduling and Service Observing
The SAC heard presentations on the progress of queue scheduling and service observing for the CFHT12K camera. The SAC continues to recognize the advantages this mode offers for CFHT12K observing and archiving, and maintains a strong endorsement of this project. SAC is pleased that the CFHT Board has supported this initiative by allowing the hiring of the staff necessary to run the queue and carry out service observing.
SAC also notes the progress with the Elixir software and commends CFHT for the value this will add to all CFHT12K observing and archived data, as well as being an essential ingredient to the implementation of a queue.
However, although SAC wants to see
this implemented as soon as possible, SAC also is concerned that CFHT not
compromise the science carried out with CFHT12K because the queue and service
mode of observing is incomplete and untested.
SAC has the following other recommendations regarding queue/service observing which are of lower urgency, but are pertinent to eventual Megaprime observing.
- SAC suggests that snapshot proposals be solicited, particularly those which can take advantage of less than optimal conditions, but be limited if they prove to be overly burdensome for the various TAC's. (A snapshot proposal is envisioned primarily as one that can fill in otherwise unused time during QSO by a) having a list of targets distributed around the sky, and b) being able to make good use of less than optimum weather or seeing conditions.)
- SAC notes that the VLT queue has put a lower limit on proposal size of 0.5 nights in order to keep the queue and TAC burden manageable.
- SAC notes that the balancing of time between agencies may prove to be an important issue for queue observing, and suggests that CFHT be sure to provide the functionality in the queue scheduling to ensure equitable balancing.
- It will be important for PI's of queued programs to be able to get instantaneous information on whether their programs have been executed and the conditions under which they took place. It is also desirable that PI's be able to get early quality checks on data should they desire. This may take the form of quick look at a subset of raw data and the entire, processed data set may wait for the completion of the program, but it is important that this functionality be provided by the queue/service operation.
- SAC reaffirms the value provided by the data archiving by the CADC. SAC recommends that CADC be kept informed of the format of data and data headers being written by the observing scripts. CADC should also be provided with current `detrend' pipeline processing software so that they can provide pipeline-processed data from its raw, archived data.
- Unlike astrometric calibrations, photometric calibration implies a loss of telescope time which could be used for other purposes. In addition, the cost in calibration time to achieve 0.01 mag accuracy instead of 0.05 mag accuracy is considerable. SAC therefore suggests that photometric calibrations be carried out only when necessary for the primary scientific program, and not as a routine service to enhance the value of the archived data. In particular, CFH should not undertake photometric re-observations of fields with CFHT12K or Megaprime where the science objective has already been met. If there is a demand for photometric calibration of archive or survey data, CFH should consider whether a collaborative agreement to use a smaller telescope for photometric calibrations could be established.
For FILAO, the SAC requests a proposed schedule for development and deployment at the telescope, details of what support will be needed from CFHT, and details of the interface to CFHT. SAC will then make a priority ranking between GRIF and FILAO.
The SAC noted that the introduction of new instruments is producing an ever increasing complement of instruments. SAC discussed the problems in supporting a suite of instruments which are not all used frequently, and the impact of the heavy instrument development load on CFHT staff. Decommissioning of some lesser used instruments will be necessary to keep the support load manageable, and to ensure reliable operation of the commonly used instruments. Of particular note is the impending decommissioning of FTS and f/35. More difficult decommissioning decisions must be made soon in the future.
The SAC considered the proposal
to upgrade PUEO. The SAC recognized that such an upgrade would significantly
enhance the scientific value of PUEO,
and open up a new scientific niche for
CFHT in the optical. SAC took note of several letters of support for this
initiative from observers.
At this point, there is no identified funding for this upgrade, which is likely to be expensive. In any event, in terms of both funding and staff effort, SAC very definitely does not want an upgrade to PUEO to compete with or interfere with WIRCAM, which the SAC believes has the highest scientific priority and urgency for new instrumentation. The WIRCAM is discussed separately below.
During the past few months, SAC called for and reviewed proposals for concept studies for replacement of the CFHT by a larger telescope. SAC made recommendations to the CFHT as to which proposals to support and how to allocate available funding among them. Consequently, CFHT is setting up contracts with the following groups to pursue these studies, with funding of about $20000 each. The concept studies will be performed over the next few months and presented at the CFHT celebratory meeting at the end of November this year.
1. Burgarella et al (Observatiore Marseille) `A versatile wide angle survey telescope for the next generation CFHT'
2. Kuhn et al (University of Hawaii) `The large high dynamic range CFH Telescope'
3. Carlberg et al (Canadian consortium) `The large high dynamic range CFH Telescope'
The Kuhn and Carlberg studies
are collaborative on a similar concept. SAC made the following comments
in their recommendation to CFHT: This program
can do little more than seed serious studies,
and flush out general ideas for discussion. It has, however, given a clear
signal that CFHT replacement is a real issue. Thus, leverage of future
efforts is important and urgent. We feel it is important to make realistic
cost and time estimates rather than detailed designs, for instrumentation
as well as telescope. It is also important to be aware of other related
projects and possible collaborators. In establishing your contracts, we
feel it is important not to duplicate studies on non critical items, particularly
between the UH and Canadian sides of the joint proposal.
SAC was informed
of the agreement to involve the Korean Astrophysical Observatory in a partnership
with CFHT, which will enable funding towards the proposed WIRCAM. The draft
MOU was reviewed with the Executive Director and SAC notes that the terms
are consistent with the previous SAC recommendation (#1 of May 1999) on
such agreements. We understand that the Executive Director will provide
a summary of the agreement on the CFHT WEB site once final Board approval
to proceed has been secured.
See the addendum
for more information on the KAO-CFHT MOU
SAC was given the draft of the CFHT
Wide field IR Working Group report, the final report of the preliminary
WIRCAM design contracted to Klaus Hodapp, and had access before the meeting
to the preliminary design of a mosaic IR camera and multi-object spectrograph
for CFHT submitted by Universite de Montreal.
15. SAC reviewed and discussed the plans for the CFHT celebratory meeting, and agreed to participate as requested in suggestions and planning for the program. The next SAC meeting will be held at CFHT immediately before the CFHT21 celebratory meeting, November 29 and 30.
Addendum
to the SAC report of May 2000
KAO-CFHT
Memorandum Of Understanding
Greg Fahlman - 13 June 2000 I am pleased to report that the Board of Directors has authorized the executive Director to enter into an agreement with the Korea Astronomy Observatory (KAO) that is intended to provide some of the means to proceed with WIRCAM in a timely fashion. SAC has been kept fully informed throughout this process and has provided guidelines for the terms of the agreement. An outline of the MOU is as follows: 1. Period covered by this agreement: The agreement covers a five year period, structured as an initial term of two years (beginning July 1, 2000) and renewable for a further 3 years subject to a satisfactory review by KAO of the results from the initial period, and to an assessment by CFHT of the progress toward realizing the WIRCAM development. It is agreed that in the event full funding for WIRCAM is unavailable, CFHT and KAO will seek to identify other opportunities for collaboration in order to continue the agreement beyond the initial term. 2. Time Allocation to KAO: For the first two years of the agreement, the CFHT Member Agencies shall provide KAO with a total of 27 nights for the exclusive use of KAO sponsored astronomers distributed over semesters 2000B, 2001A, 2001B, 2002A. The time will be distributed equally over bright and dark time. Joint
proposals submitted to the KAO and at least one other Member Agency are
welcomed. The time will be allocated between the participating agencies
(now including KAO) following current practice.
3. CFHT Benefit: KAO
will provide CFHT with an annual remittance for the use of the CFHT facilities,
instruments and infrastructure required for the pursuit of KAO's aim of
developing a strong national program in optical and infrared astronomy.
4. WIRCAM development: In the event that WIRCAM does proceed, the CFHT shall endeavor to provide KAO sponsored technical and scientific staff an opportunity to participate in the work of the project, This may include placement of KAO sponsored technical staff at CFHT and/or affiliated laboratories in the partner communities. 5. Participation
in CFHT affairs:
KAO may nominate an individual to attend SAC meetings as a non-voting observer, with the permission of the SAC president. KAO may also nominate an individual to attend the CFHT TAC meetings to assist scheduling of KAO programs Similarly, KAO may nominate an individual to attend the CFHT Board meetings as an observer, with the permission of the Board Chair. |