Difference between revisions of "Workshop2010:rationale"

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= Workshop's Rationale ==
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= Workshop's Rationale =
  
Gaia will repeatedly monitor the whole sky in the optical. The Gaia Science Alerts stream therefore represents a unique opportunity, and holds a significant responsibility. Triggers from transient phenomena are the first data that the astronomical community will see from the satellite. It is up the Gaia Science Alerts Team to make sure that the alert stream is accurate, reliable, interesting and free from (or at least acceptably low in) contamination. It is vital to make sure that the astronomical community is ready for these Gaia alerts, and that Gaia starts delivering science quickly. In addition, we will raise public awareness about (and involvement with) the satellite very early on in the mission.
+
The main aim of the workshop is to focus community attention on and
 +
involvement in the scientific possibilities that will arise from the
 +
Gaia Science Alerts data stream.
 +
 
 +
Gaia will be launched in 2012 and will repeatedly monitor the whole
 +
sky in the optical during its 5 year mission. The Gaia Science Alerts
 +
team will search for transient phenomena in source photometry as the
 +
data are promptly ingested for processing. The aim will be to detect
 +
large numbers of Supernovae, Microlensing Events, Novae, Gamma-Ray
 +
Burst afterglows, and other interesting transient or anomalous
 +
phenomena. Gaia Alerts will be released to the world-wide community to
 +
enable rapid follow-up of the transients.
 +
 
 +
The purpose of the workshop is to discuss in detail the expected
 +
nature and potential of the Gaia Science Alerts data stream. Our goals
 +
are:
 +
 
 +
* To develop a roadmap for the coordination and preparation of ground based verification and follow-up observing campaigns.
 +
 
 +
* Identification of the most exciting targets of opportunity for the Gaia Science Alerts stream.
 +
 
 +
* Improved understanding of the expected events and contaminants rates for Gaia alerts.
 +
 
 +
* Improved requirements on the development and operation of the Gaia Alerts stream, including time-scales, sensitivity, acceptable contamination rates and so on.
 +
 
 +
Gaia Alerts represent a unique opportunity: triggers from transient
 +
phenomena are the first data that the astronomical community will see
 +
from the satellite.
  
== The motivation for the workshop: ==
 
* To focus community attention on the scientific possibilities that will arise from the Gaia Science Alerts data stream, and to make sure that astronomers are prepared and motivated to exploit the data as it arrives.
 
* To invite the community to influence the scope of the science alerts processing algorithms and alert strategies, to ensure that returns from the mission are maximized, and that exciting opportunities are not overlooked.
 
  
 
== Target participants: ==
 
== Target participants: ==
# Experts on the Gaia mission and data flow system, together with developers and scientists working on the Science Alerts System.
+
We aim to bring together, in an interactive workshop environment,
# Astronomers who are actively involved or interested in ongoing or planned surveys for transient phenomena, for example the Palomar Transient Factory, the Catalina Survey, the Supernova Factory, PanSTARRS, LSST, WASP, OGLE, ASAS.
+
astronomers working in key relevant areas:
# Active researchers into transient phenomena, such as Supernovae, Microlensing Events, Gamma Ray Bursts, Classical Novae, ExtraGalactic variability, CVs, Be stars, massive stars and so on.
+
* Experts on the Gaia mission and data flow system, together with developers and scientists working on the Science Alerts System.
# Scientists who are involved in the distribution of Alert information, e.g. from eSTAR and GCN
+
* Astronomers who are actively involved or interested in ongoing or planned surveys for transient phenomena, for example the Palomar Transient Factory, the Catalina Survey, the Supernova Factory, PanSTARRS, LSST, WASP, OGLE, ASAS.
# Individuals who are interested in the outreach possibilities of Gaia Science Alerts.
+
* Active researchers into transient phenomena, such as Supernovae, Microlensing Events, Gamma Ray Bursts, Classical Novae, ExtraGalactic variability, CVs, Be stars, massive stars, solar system objects and so on.
 +
* Scientists who are involved in the distribution of Alert information, e.g. from eSTAR and GCN
 +
* Individuals who are interested in the outreach possibilities of Gaia Science Alerts.
 +
 
 +
We view this meeting as a kickoff for collaborative work to plan pre-launch and mission-based activities.

Latest revision as of 11:03, 19 April 2010

Workshop's Rationale

The main aim of the workshop is to focus community attention on and involvement in the scientific possibilities that will arise from the Gaia Science Alerts data stream.

Gaia will be launched in 2012 and will repeatedly monitor the whole sky in the optical during its 5 year mission. The Gaia Science Alerts team will search for transient phenomena in source photometry as the data are promptly ingested for processing. The aim will be to detect large numbers of Supernovae, Microlensing Events, Novae, Gamma-Ray Burst afterglows, and other interesting transient or anomalous phenomena. Gaia Alerts will be released to the world-wide community to enable rapid follow-up of the transients.

The purpose of the workshop is to discuss in detail the expected nature and potential of the Gaia Science Alerts data stream. Our goals are:

  • To develop a roadmap for the coordination and preparation of ground based verification and follow-up observing campaigns.
  • Identification of the most exciting targets of opportunity for the Gaia Science Alerts stream.
  • Improved understanding of the expected events and contaminants rates for Gaia alerts.
  • Improved requirements on the development and operation of the Gaia Alerts stream, including time-scales, sensitivity, acceptable contamination rates and so on.

Gaia Alerts represent a unique opportunity: triggers from transient phenomena are the first data that the astronomical community will see from the satellite.


Target participants:

We aim to bring together, in an interactive workshop environment, astronomers working in key relevant areas:

  • Experts on the Gaia mission and data flow system, together with developers and scientists working on the Science Alerts System.
  • Astronomers who are actively involved or interested in ongoing or planned surveys for transient phenomena, for example the Palomar Transient Factory, the Catalina Survey, the Supernova Factory, PanSTARRS, LSST, WASP, OGLE, ASAS.
  • Active researchers into transient phenomena, such as Supernovae, Microlensing Events, Gamma Ray Bursts, Classical Novae, ExtraGalactic variability, CVs, Be stars, massive stars, solar system objects and so on.
  • Scientists who are involved in the distribution of Alert information, e.g. from eSTAR and GCN
  • Individuals who are interested in the outreach possibilities of Gaia Science Alerts.

We view this meeting as a kickoff for collaborative work to plan pre-launch and mission-based activities.