From mita.brierley at astronomyaustralia.org.au Wed May 16 17:02:17 2012 From: mita.brierley at astronomyaustralia.org.au (Mita Brierley) Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 17:02:17 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Astronomy Supercomputer Time Allocation Committee: Call for Proposals Message-ID: <012601cd3331$d4c0c670$7e425350$@astronomyaustralia.org.au> Astronomy Supercomputer Time Allocation Committee: Call for Proposals - NCI, gSTAR/swinSTAR, Epic, Fornax Attached is a call for proposals for time on a number of Australian Supercomputer Facilities for Q3-Q4 in 2012. The same information is available on the Astronomy Australia web-site at http://astronomyaustralia.org.au/astac.html We would like to draw your attention to the following key points: 1. The time available for computational astrophysics on internationally competitive facilities has increased markedly over the last year. This is a good time to be working in this area. 2. The GPU facility gSTAR, located at Swinburne, offers users an opportunity for very high performance computational power for appropriately written code. 3. Fornax, the second supercomputer installed as part of the Pawsey Centre project, is also a GPU facility and is now available for general access. 4. The deadline for this current round of proposals is 8 June, 2012 so that there is adequate time to prepare a good proposal. 5. ASTAC is particularly keen to encourage graduate students and early career researchers to become involved in this rapidly developing field, which offers the capacity to perform simulations of numerous astrophysical situations at high resolution and in three dimensions. Advisers are available to assist people in getting started in this area. ASTAC Lindsay Botten (NCI Director; ex-officio), Jarrod Hurley (Swinburne Supercomputer Manager; ex-officio), Geoff Bicknell (Chair, Australian National University), John Lattanzio (Monash University), Geraint Lewis (University of Sydney), Jon Smillie (NCI user consultant), Luke Hodkinson (Swinburne supercomputer user consultant) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ASTAC Announcement Q3-Q4.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 443082 bytes Desc: not available URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Thu May 17 12:11:16 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 12:11:16 +1000 Subject: [ASA] XXIV Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics: "Astrophysical Applications of Gravitational Lensing" References: Message-ID: <88D9F1D2-7488-4E1B-B742-5B526B4422DA@sydney.edu.au> Geraint Lewis has asked for the following announcement to be circulated: XXIV Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics - Instituto de Astrof?sica de Canarias "Astrophysical Applications of Gravitational Lensing" Puerto de La Cruz, Tenerife, Spain, 4th-16th November 2012 http://www.iac.es/winterschool/2012/ Outline: -------- The primary aim of the XXIV Winter School is to provide a wide-ranging and up-to-date overview of different aspects of gravitational lensing and its application to several fields of Astrophysics (Dark Matter, Galaxies structure, Quasar accretion disks, Exoplanets, etc) and Cosmology. The School is particularly designed to introduce young researchers to the use of gravitational lensing as a tool in their current work. Topics and Lecturers: --------------------- - Lensing Basics Sherry Suyu (University of California, Santa B?rbara, USA) - Dark Matter in Clusters and Large Scale Structure Peter Schneider (Universitat Bonn, Germany) - AGN and Quasars Joaquim Wambsganss (Zentrum f?r Astronomie der Universit?t Heidelberg, Germany) - Galaxies and Cosmology Emilio Falco (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, USA) - Exoplanets Andy Gould (Ohio State University, USA) - The Future of Lensing Chris Fassnacht (University of California, Davis, USA) - Tutorial for Lens Modeling Chuck Keeton (Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, USA) - Tutorial for Inverse Ray Shooting Jorge Jim?nez-Vicente (Universidad de Granada, Spain) School Venue: ------------- The sessions will take place at the Hotel Beatriz Atlantis & Spa **** in Puerto de la Cruz, where the participants will also be accommodated. Hotel reservations and special requests will be handled by the organizers. http://www.beatrizhoteles.com/en/hotel-atlantis.html The hotel is a modern hotel located at the sea front and very close to the centre of Puerto de la Cruz. In the surroundings you find the commercial area with shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants. Registration: ------------- The school is primarily intended for doctoral students and recent postdocs in any field of research in Astronomy. Those interested in attending the Winter School should register using the online form in our web page: http://www.iac.es/winterschool/2012/ The registration fee is Euro 1500.-, which covers the Conference Fee, half-board accommodation for thirteen days (from Sunday 4th to Saturday 17th, on the basis of shared rooms), all excursions and social activities including visits to the observatories on La Palma and Tenerife, and a copy of the proceedings. Hotel bookings are handled directly by the organization. Those participants wanting to share a room with a specific person should indicate it by email to winter at iac.es. Financial Support: ------------------ A limited number of grants may be provided by the organization to partially cover registration costs. Those applicants requiring partial support to attend the School may fill in the corresponding form in the personal area once registered. Social Events: -------------- There will be a number of social events during the School. The following is a first approximation to the social activities that we intend to include: * A Welcome Cocktail on Sunday, November 4th. * Visit to a local winery (Dinner included). * Visit to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma (Lunch included). * Visit to the IAC's Headquarter in La Laguna (Tenerife) (Dinner included). * Visit to the Teide Observatory in Tenerife (Lunch included). * Closing Dinner. School Deadlines: ----------------- * June 15th, 2011 - Deadline for both the Registration and Applications. * July 1st, 2011 - Selected candidates will be informed. School Web Page: ---------------- http://www.iac.es/winterschool/2012/ Contact: -------- Organizing Committee * Evencio Mediavilla Gradolph * Jos? Antonio Mu?oz Lozano * Francisco Garz?n L?pez * Francisco S?nchez Mart?nez Secretariat Lourdes Gonz?lez XXIV Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics Instituto de Astrof?sica de Canarias C/ V?a L?ctea, s/n 38200 La Laguna - Tenerife SPAIN Phone: +34-922-605271 Fax: +34-922-605210 e-mail: winter at iac.es ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JOHN O?BYRNE Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) Chair, School Teaching & Learning Committee Secretary, Astronomical Society of Australia Inc. Sydney Institute for Astronomy School of Physics | Faculty of Science THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Rm 222, 44-70 Rosehill St Redfern H90 (see map) | (alternate: Rm 568, Physics Annexe A29) Postal address: School of Physics | The University of Sydney | NSW | Australia | 2006 T +61 2 9351 3184 | F +61 2 9351 7726 E john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au | W http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/~obyrne CRICOS 00026A This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This email uses 100% recycled words and ideas. Do you really need to print it? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Thu May 17 12:36:48 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 12:36:48 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Registration reminder: Workshop on the Magellanic Clouds in Western Australia Message-ID: Dear colleagues, This is a reminder that the deadline for the registration of the Magellanic Clouds workshop to be held Sept 10--13, 2012 in Perth, Western Australia is just a month away. The registration closes on June 15, 2012. To register and submit abstract, please visit the conference website at: http://www.icrar.org/news/magellanic-clouds-workshop If insufficient time slot occurs for the oral contributions, the participants could still present in poster format. Please note that the registration is not completed until the registration fee ($300) is paid via the secure payment website hosted by the University of Western Australia at: http://payments.weboffice.uwa.edu.au/icrar/magellanic_clouds_conference_payment. You should receive an e-receipt via email once the transaction is completed. If you require a short stay business visa, please contact me directly at biqing at icrar.org. We will be able to provide an invitation letter to supplement your visa application. We have also reserved seminar rooms at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) on Sept 14, 2012 for any post-meeting group discussion (contact me to discuss details). We have the following confirmed speakers: Mike Boylan-Kolchin (review) Vanessa Hill (review) Eva Grebel (review) Dennis Zaritsky (review) Naomi McClure-Griffiths (review) Chris Brook Nitya Kallivayalil Adam Ruzicka David Nidever Maria-Rosa Cioni Margaret Meixner Stefan Keller We hope to see you in WA! Best Regards, Bi-Qing For (on behalf of the SOC and LOC) International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Fri May 18 17:34:25 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 17:34:25 +1000 Subject: [ASA] AAO/RSAA Director News References: Message-ID: Dear ASA members, In early 2013, Professor Harvey Butcher, Director of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the ANU, will be stepping down from his position. He will be succeeded by Professor Matthew Colless, current Director of the Australian Astronomical Observatory. During his five-year term as Director, Harvey has overseen a period of rapid growth and renewal at RSAA. His achievements include the successful bid for $88M for Australian involvement in the Giant Magellan Telescope: in association with this, he has put in place a world-class Adaptive Optics capability at the Observatory and secured major contracts with the GMT. Under Harvey's leadership, the Observatory has recruited a large number of young astronomers through the Stromlo Fellowship program. Harvey will remain at the observatory as an astronomer for the foreseeable future. Matthew has been Director of the AAO since 2004. During his directorship he has overseen the transition of the AAO from the Anglo-Australian Observatory to the Australian Astronomical Observatory (a division of the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education) after the withdrawal of the UK from the bi-national partnership. Since 2007, Matthew has been ranked among the 250 most-cited researchers in space sciences for the previous 25 years, and he was made an Honorary Fellow of the RAS in 2009. Matthew has been Vice Chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope Board since 2009. Please join me in congratulating Matthew and wishing he and Harvey all the very best in their new roles. Cheers, Kate Brooks ASA, President ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JOHN O?BYRNE Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) Chair, School Teaching & Learning Committee Secretary, Astronomical Society of Australia Inc. Sydney Institute for Astronomy School of Physics | Faculty of Science THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Rm 222, 44-70 Rosehill St Redfern H90 (see map) | (alternate: Rm 568, Physics Annexe A29) Postal address: School of Physics | The University of Sydney | NSW | Australia | 2006 T +61 2 9351 3184 | F +61 2 9351 7726 E john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au | W http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/~obyrne CRICOS 00026A This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This email uses 100% recycled words and ideas. Do you really need to print it? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Sat May 19 00:51:15 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 00:51:15 +1000 Subject: [ASA] Call for nominations for the 2011 and 2012 IUPAP Young Scientist Medals in the field of Astrophysics References: <4FB4D24A.7070000@eso.org> Message-ID: <81F59617-278F-40FB-BA28-18E1735E74FB@sydney.edu.au> Call for nominations for the 2011 and 2012 IUPAP Young Scientist Medals in the field of Astrophysics The IUPAP Young Scientist Medals in the field of astrophysics are presented for two scientists every two years. This year ? at the 26th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics (December 16-20, 2012 in Sao Paolo, Brazil). The nominated candidate must not have completed more than eight years of research after their doctorate by December 2011 (for the 2011 Medal) or by December 2012 (for the 2012 Medal). Interruptions for military service, family emergencies, etc (but not teaching) are allowed. A prize of 1,000 EUR is awarded by IUPAP for each winner to participate at the Texas Symposium and give a presentation of achievements. One Medal cannot be shared between several candidates. Nominations may be made by anyone with an interest in the field. Self-nominations are not permitted, but a candidate could ask a mentor or colleague to provide a nomination. The nomination papers must include: ? A citation of approximately 50 words. ? Curriculum vitae of the candidate, which must not exceed two pages in length. ? List of 6 of the candidate?s most significant publications, including citation information, not to exceed one page. ? Commentary on the publications, which makes the case for the award, not to exceed two pages. ? Two letters of support (up to a maximum of three pages), at least one of which must come from someone not at the nominee's institution and not a mentor or significant collaborator. The documents must be collated into a single pdf file called Surname_ysm.pdf, where Surname is the candidate?s name. The file must not exceed 2MB in size. Nominations not conforming to these rules cannot be accepted. The Medal winners will be selected by a committee composed of the members of the IUPAP Astrophysics Committee (C19). Nominations should be sent on or before the 1st June 2012 to the C19 Secretary (Grazina Tautvaisiene) by e-mail to grazina.tautvaisiene at tfai.vu.lt. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JOHN O?BYRNE Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) Chair, School Teaching & Learning Committee Secretary, Astronomical Society of Australia Inc. Sydney Institute for Astronomy School of Physics | Faculty of Science THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Rm 222, 44-70 Rosehill St Redfern H90 (see map) | (alternate: Rm 568, Physics Annexe A29) Postal address: School of Physics | The University of Sydney | NSW | Australia | 2006 T +61 2 9351 3184 | F +61 2 9351 7726 E john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au | W http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/~obyrne CRICOS 00026A This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This email uses 100% recycled words and ideas. Do you really need to print it? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au Sat May 19 00:53:29 2012 From: john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au (John O'Byrne) Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 00:53:29 +1000 Subject: [ASA] News from GMTO Message-ID: <20771150-7F8B-483A-819D-7EE95ECA4100@sydney.edu.au> Having trouble viewing this email? click here Blast Off! GMT's "Big Bang" - The first of over 72 controlled blasts which will create a solid bedrock foundation for the Giant Magellan Telescope (Photo: Francisco Figueroa/GMTO) On Friday, March 23, 2012 the GMT project passed another major milestone when it began leveling its mountain top site at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Approximately 72 carefully controlled blasts, coordinated with the work of heavy earth moving equipment, will clear an area equivalent to four football fields, leaving a solid bedrock foundation for the giant telescope and its support facilities. Nearly 4 million cubic feet of rock will be moved to level the site, in some areas the elevation will be lowered by as much as 30 feet. The site leveling work should be completed in July or early August. Work on the site is being carried out by a Chilean engineering firm with expertise in earth moving and direct experience in preparing mountain top observatory sites. Geophones (sensitive monitors of motion and vibration) are being used to monitor the blasting. Las Campanas is one of the premier astronomical sites on the planet. With its clear skies, non-existent light pollution and exceptionally sharp images, Las Campanas is one of the last outposts on the Earth where astronomers can expect pristine observing conditions. More ... Out of the Oven The Second GMT Primary Mirror Segment blank on the furnace hearth. Note the person at the top edge of the mirror for a sense of the mirror's size (Photo: Ray Bertram/Steward Observatory Mirror Lab) Early this year the second of the GMT's 8.4m primary mirror segments was cast at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory Mirror Laboratory. Since mid-January the mirror blank has been slowly cooling and undergoing a process of "annealing." During this phase the mirror blank is cooled in a carefully controlled manner to ensure that there are no strains or stresses locked into the glass as it slowly contracts while cooling. In late April the lid of the furnace was raised and the mirror lab crew got their first direct look at the solid glass surface within. All looked well, but the real inspection would have to await removal of the furnace walls, allowing access to the side of the mirror. All of the furnace structure has now been removed and the mirror blank looks perfect. More ... GMT Software and Controls Team The GMT Software and Controls Team From Left: Matthieu Bec, Ning Liu, Jos? Filgueira, Jos? Soto, Chien Peng (Photo: Angie Valdericeda/GMTO) The GMT Software and Controls team, headed by Jos? Filgueira, is responsible for developing software that will both operate the observatory and assist astronomers with acquiring and processing their data. This international team of expert software engineers comes to GMT with substantial experience in developing control systems and software for large telescopes and sophisticated scientific instruments. The team will develop software that controls the telescope, aligns its massive mirrors, operates scientific instruments, opens, closes and rotates the enclosure, and many other tasks. State of the art software and controls are essential to the operations of a complex and highly integrated system like the GMT. Jose's group is getting an early start on the process by developing the top-level system architecture and by prototyping critical elements of the control system. In assembling his team, Jos? states, "We were looking for a broad and balanced set of skills and experience." Jos? brings to GMT nearly twenty years of experience in astronomical software projects, including heading the Control System Group at Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) 10 meter telescope project at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) in La Laguna, Spain. When asked why he was attracted to the GMT project, Jos? replied, "The GMT is a unique project that pushes back technical as well as scientific frontiers." More ... Upcoming Events GMT will be exhibiting and presenting several papers at SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2012. Look for the GMT team at Stand 207, RAI Convention Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 2 through July 4. Employment Opportunities The GMT Project is looking for highly-motivated and qualified individuals to work on this world-class facility. Find out about current open positions. Copyright ? 2012, GMTO Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Forward email This email was sent to john.obyrne at sydney.edu.au by info at gmto.org | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe? | Privacy Policy. GMTO | PO Box 90933 | Pasadena | CA | 91109 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: