Context
Time domain astronomy was highlighted as a key science area for the 2020s in the Astro2020 Decadal Review. Both HST and JWST have the potential to make significant scientific contributions in probing the variable universe at moderate and longer timescales. HST has the advantage of a 30-year legacy of observations spanning the broadest range of celestial sources; JWST has the prospect of a 20-year lifetime, with unparalleled sensitivity at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths opens up opportunities in the high redshift universe. Phenomena include both photometric variations and astrometric motions.
Charter
The Space Telescope Science Institute’s Interim Director, Nancy Levenson, has decided to constitute a Working Group to provide advice and recommendations on how HST and JWST observations can be leveraged in support of these investigations.
The Long-Term Monitoring WG is charged with providing guidance on optimal strategies for maximizing the scientific return from HST and JWST time domain observations. In particular, the Workng Group should address the following tasks:
- Solicit input from the community on key science areas that can exploit long time-baseline observations, based either on past observations or laying the foundation for future investigations;
- Identify science themes that should be prioritized for exploration by future General Observer programs and/or Archival analyses;
- Provide advice on the optimal timing for substantive follow-up observations and suggest mechanisms for enabling those observations;
- Comment on the appropriate scale of resources likely required to support those programs;
- Develop a specific concept for an observing program that will utilize JWST’s imaging and spectroscopic capabilities to probe transient phenomena at high redshift, with the goal of starting implementation of the program in JWST Cycle 2.
By forming this Working Group, STScI aims to ensure that many voices are heard in the formulation of the appropriate priorities for time domain science with HST and JWST. Our goal is to maximize the science return and legacy value of the observations and the resultant data products. An open request for input by the astronomical community will be issued by STScI to support the Working Group's efforts. In defining the science case for a DD program, the Working Group should take into account both the archival research value of the planned observations and the coordination of these observations with other observatories.
The Working Group will comprise 8-10 members of the astronomical community selected by the STScI in consultation with the HST and JWST user committees. The Chair of the Working Group will organize the meetings of the Working Group, and STScI will provide logistical (travel, meeting, telecon, etc) support as needed. We expect that the Working Group will have at least one face-to-face meeting, supplemented by regular telecons and email exchanges.
The committee will summarize their conclusions in a report to the Director and presentations to the STUC and the JSTUC. Interim recommendations will be presented in the Fall of 2023, with the final report due by January 2024.
The Working Group co-chairs are Saurabh Jha (Rutgers University and Dana Casetti (Southern Connecticut University) and the members are:
Gary Bernstein (U. Penn.), Matt Hayes (Stockholm), Lidia Oskinova (POtsdam), Andrew Pace (Carnegie Mellon), Robert Quimby (San Diego State), Megan Reiter (Rice), Armin Rest (STScI), Adam Riess (JHU/STScI), David Sand (Arizona), Dan Weisz (Berkeley)
The primary STScI contacts for the Advisory Committee will be Neill Reid (Associate Director for Science) and Laura Watkins (Deputy Head, SMO). They are ex officio members of the Advisory Committee.
