NAM2019
  • NAM2021
    • Contacts
  • Science
    • Science Programme
    • Plenary Talks
    • Parallel Sessions
    • Special Lunches/Discussion Sessions
    • Poster Session
    • NAM Community Session
  • Social
    • Presidential Address
    • Herschel Concert
    • RAS Awards Ceremony
    • Virtual Stonehenge Tour
  • Media
  • Public Engagement
    • Public engagement opportunities
    • Public talk
    • Writing Skyscapes
  • Venue
    • Code of Conduct
    • Accessing the conference
    • Gather.town
    • NAM2021 Slack
    • About Bath
  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Posters
  • NAM2021
    • Contacts
  • Science
    • Science Programme
    • Plenary Talks
    • Parallel Sessions
    • Special Lunches/Discussion Sessions
    • Poster Session
    • NAM Community Session
  • Social
    • Presidential Address
    • Herschel Concert
    • RAS Awards Ceremony
    • Virtual Stonehenge Tour
  • Media
  • Public Engagement
    • Public engagement opportunities
    • Public talk
    • Writing Skyscapes
  • Venue
    • Code of Conduct
    • Accessing the conference
    • Gather.town
    • NAM2021 Slack
    • About Bath
  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Posters

Tuesday

Schedule

id
date time
PM1
14:00
Abstract
Assessing the LSST Sky Subtraction Algorithm's Potential Impact on Galaxies Science
Tuesday

Abstract details

id
Assessing the LSST Sky Subtraction Algorithm's Potential Impact on Galaxies Science
Date Submitted
2021-04-29 00:00:00
Aaron
Watkins
Liverpool John Moores University
Early science and commissioning opportunities with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory
Invited
A. Watkins (Liverpool John Moores University), C. Collins (Liverpool John Moores University), S. Sugata (University of Hertfordshire)
The `low-surface-brightness’ (LSB) regime (i.e., the domain that is inaccessible in past large surveys) defines the discovery space for LSST, which can theoretically achieve unprecedented imaging depths of 30--31 magnitudes/arcsec^2. However, achieving this depth requires a carefully tailored data reduction pipeline. Specifically, if the night sky is even slightly over-subtracted, this can degrade LSB structures (e.g. dwarf galaxies, tidal streams, or intra-cluster light) greatly limiting the potential science cases LSST can address. Working with the Rubin Algorithms and Pipeline Team at Princeton, via an STFC-funded LSST:UK work package (which has been accepted as an UK in-kind contribution), we have led a year-long effort to measure the impact of the current pipeline's sky subtraction on the flux of astrophysical objects, using injections of model sources. This effort has demonstrated a systematic pipeline-induced over-subtraction of flux, beginning at 10% around 26 magnitudes/arcsec^2 and becoming increasingly more severe with decreasing surface brightness. Magnitudes of LSB objects are significantly impacted, with a non-negligible effect on high-surface-brightness objects as well, making much of extragalactic discovery science unattainable with the current pipeline. Given the severity of this problem, we describe our plan to mitigate these issues, to make new extragalactic science more feasible using LSST.

NAM 2020 Logo AWRAS Logo

 

Bath University LogoUKRI STFC new

All attendees are expected to show respect and courtesy to other attendees and staff, and to adhere to the NAM Code of Conduct.

© 2022 Royal Astronomical Society

Login