Top End

Andy Adamson

Head of UKIRT Operations/Director of Science

WFCAM

The new wide-field camera has dominated the UKIRT scene since the previous newsletter. At that point we were unable to say exactly how the commissioning would develop but as reported in this issue, things worked out better in some respects than we could have dared to hope for back in the Summer of 2004. The commissioning was constrained by adjustments which were impossible to fit in during the time available before the resumption of Cassegrain observing, and some hard work remains to be done. The superb image of Orion, obtained during commissioning time, serves to demonstrate the power of the camera and also (for those prepared to look closely at the image) some of the difficulties that the task of reducing data sets of this size will present. Semester 05B will be the first-ever UKIRT semester to feature only one available instrument. To make as strong a head start with the UKIDSS surveys as possible, we have scheduled WFCAM from August 2005 to the end of January 2006. This is a measure of our commitment to the surveys in general, but it also has a pragmatic aspect: it enables us to make the quickest possible start on the deepest survey in the UKIDSS programme (the Ultra-Deep Survey, or UDS).

Anniversaries

It is just over 200 years since the discovery of infrared radiation by William Herschel, and 25 years have passed since the first infrared observations were made on Mauna Kea. The fact that the two full-time infrared-dedicated telescopes on the summit (UKIRT and the IRTF) are still more than holding their own is a testament both to the vision of those who brought infrared astronomy to its first fruition in the 1970s, and to the enormous technical advances which have enabled infrared astronomers now to undertake projects whose scope and ambition would have been quite fantastic to the builders of the two telescopes. It was very sad to note the passing of Jim Ring - one of the founding fathers of infrared astronomy in the U.K. - within weeks of the 25th anniversary of the commissioning of UKIRT.

Celebrating a quarter-century of infrared astronomy at the same time as commissioning the largest new instrument ever to arrive at UKIRT was, with hindsight, perhaps a little too ambitious; but holding a celebration jointly with the IRTF was a good way to keep the effort required under control, as well as a nice way to celebrate the links between the two observatories. The evening's celebrations went off well, a lot of good food was had, and many old acquaintances were renewed. Richard Ellis gave a very welcome and positive speech on the history of UKIRT and some of its future, Erik Becklin did the same for the IRTF, and John Jefferies gave a very perceptive discussion of the differences between the pioneering atmosphere of the 1970s and the more regulated environment in which we work now. Finally, we also hosted the first ever UKIRT open day at the summit, during which more than 100 people - both locals and visitors to the island - came to see the two telescopes and to hear explained the challenges presented by infrared observing even now. Thanks and kudos to Douglas Pierce-Price and Watson Varricatt for their work on the day.

Strategic Review

Finally, as many of those reading this will already be aware, UKIRT will be the subject of a strategic review this year, a process kicked off by a meeting to be held in the margins of the NAM in Birmingham. If you have strong views as to the future uses and development of UKIRT, come along and take the opportunity to make them known!