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Canadian Participation in the LSST
  • +2
  • Wesley C Fraser,
  • Melissa L. Graham,
  • JJ Kavelaars,
  • James Di Francesco,
  • Renee Hlozek
Wesley C Fraser
NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Melissa L. Graham
University of Washington, LSST
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JJ Kavelaars
NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre
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James Di Francesco
NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre
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Renee Hlozek
University of Toronto
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Abstract

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope will revolutionize optical wide-field astronomy while opening the window to short time-domain astronomy. Many astronomy communities, like the Canadian community, largely do not have membership in the LSST, but could benefit from its data products. We have conducted a survey of the Canadian community to gauge their interests with the LSST, and what data products are most desirable. We have found that the astronomy research of Canadians would greatly benefit from having access to the LSST. Canadian astronomers fall broadly into two categories: those interested in time domain, and the LSST's alerts; and those interested in more classical wide-field astronomy of the stationary sky. We have identified 4 data products in particular which the majority of responders desired. These data products represent a relatively low data volume compared to the full LSST pixel-to-catalog products, and present the opportunity to host a so-called LSST-light data centre. This centre would act as a national facility, which would largely satisfy the LSST-related data needs of the vast majority of Canadian astronomers.