Archives de l’auteur : ecasseditor

In this issue:

Canadian Gemini Office News
Update on CASTOR
CCAT Update
CFHT News and Updates
ALMA Matters
PRIMA Update
Dissertation: AGN–Host Galaxy Image Decomposition in the CEERS Survey

Canadian Gemini Office News

By Eric Steinbring (Canadian Gemini Office, National Research Council Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics)

A Springtime Bounty of Telescope-Time Opportunities

Late March typically brings hope to Canadians that a bloom of springtime flowers is not too far off, and also that there will be many chances to plant for a new crop of telescope-time allocations:

• This starts with the monthly CfP for Fast Turnaround (FT) time, at noon Hawai’i Standard Time (HST) on 31 March. The FT Call is available . Those are short, small proposals that can easily be folded into the Band 1+2 queue during the next three months (and account for 10% of our partner share of time);
• On the same day (31 March) at 11:59PM HST is the deadline for full proposals to the Large and Long Program (LLP) and Subaru Intensive Program (SIP) 2026 Call. These are instead big proposals which need significant time, must be spread over many semesters, or both (and for which we devote 20% of our partner share of time);
• And then it’s the 2026B Regular Semester CfP, at 4 PM (PDT) / 7 PM (EDT) on 1 April. This accounts for the bulk of Canada’s available time on both telescopes. Look here for the Canada-specific information about that Call;
• It may be useful to keep in mind that you can also apply within that regular call (or anytime) for a Poor Weather (PW) program, if your bright targets can just happen to make use of a Band-4 allocation, i.e. they can pick from some combination of poor-seeing/cloudy/wet-skies; that time is not charged to Canada, as scheduled Band-1 to 3 queue partner-time programs are not observable then;
• Remember, you can *always* apply straight to Gemini for anything that makes a compelling scientific case, via Director’s Discretionary Time (DDT), which is a 5% off-the-top pool set aside from the partner shares. Perhaps our « Canadianess » gets in the way here, as we tend not to ask for this time (and reasonably, by weight we could be asking for something closer to our partner share in an ongoing basis), but it is freely offered to the world. Don’t be shy.
• And finally, related to DDT, the following may be of interest, if your particular scientific harvest anticipates sprouts from within the time domain:

Starting last semester Gemini launched a specific DDT program called “Once in a Rubin Gem.” This initiative has the Gemini Director allocating 120 hours over the next three years, specifically for the rapid follow-up of the most surprising and puzzling discoveries from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). It is focused on speculative targets unlikely to get approved via the regular TACs, but holding potential for exciting discoveries. This acts as a complement to other Rapid Target of Opportunity (RToO) programs, and all data will be made public immediately. See https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-i-proposing-time/dd-initiatives for more information, and contacts.

Nouvelles de l’Office Gemini Canadien

Par Eric Steinbring (Office Gemini Canadien, Conseil National de Recherches Herzberg en Astronomie & Astrophysique)

Une multitude d’opportunités de temps d’observation ce printemps

La fin du mois de mars apporte généralement aux Canadiens l’espoir que la floraison printanière n’est plus très loin, mais aussi qu’il y aura de nombreuses occasions de postuler pour une nouvelle série d’allocations de temps d’observation aux télescopes Gemini:

• Cela commence par l’Appel de Demandes mensuel pour le temps d’observation Retour Rapide («Fast Turnaround» ou FT), à midi, heure normale d’Hawaï (HNH), le 31 mars. L’Appel de Demandes FT est disponible à l’adresse https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-i/ft/ft-cfp. Il s’agit de demandes courtes et de petite envergure qui peuvent facilement être intégrées dans la queue d’observations des bandes 1 et 2 au cours des trois prochains mois (et qui représentent 10 % de notre part de temps en tant que partenaire);
• Le même jour (31 mars) à 23 h 59 HNH est la date limite pour les demandess complètes dans le cadre de l’Appel de Demandes 2026 pour le programme « Large and Long Program » (LLP) et le programme intensif Subaru (SIP) : https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-i-proposing-time/llp/2026-llp-call-proposals. Il s’agit en revanche de demandes de grande envergure qui nécessitent beaucoup de temps d’observation, doivent s’étaler sur plusieurs semestres, ou les deux (et auxquelles nous allouons 20 % de notre part de temps en tant que partenaire);
• Vient ensuite l’Appel de demandes pour le semestre régulier 2026B, avec pour date limite le 1er avril à 16 h (heure du Pacifique) / 19 h (heure de l’Est). Cela représente la majeure partie du temps d’observation disponible pour le Canada sur les deux télescopes. Vous trouverez ici les informations spécifiques au Canada concernant cet appel : https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/products-services/technical-advisory-services/gemini-canadian-specific-information-phase-i ;
• Il peut être utile de garder à l’esprit que vous pouvez également postuler dans le cadre de cet Appel régulier (ou à tout moment) pour un programme de mauvais temps « Poor Weather » (PW), si vos cibles les plus brillantes peuvent justement bénéficier d’une allocation de bande 4, c’est-à-dire qu’elles peuvent être observées dans des conditions de mauvaise visibilité, de ciel nuageux ou humide; ce temps n’est pas facturé au Canada, car les programmes de temps de partenaire dans la queue d’observation des bandes 1 à 3 ne sont pas observables à ce moment-là;
• N’oubliez pas que vous pouvez *toujours* présenter une demande directement à Gemini pour tout projet présentant un intérêt scientifique convaincant via le Temps discrétionnaire du Directeur («Director’s Discretionary Time» ou DDT), qui correspond à une réserve de temps de 5% prélevée sur les parts des partenaires. Peut-être que notre « canadienneté » nous empêche d’en profiter, car nous avons tendance à ne pas demander ce temps (nous pourrions demander de manière continue quelque chose de plus proche de notre part de partenaire), mais ce temps est offert gratuitement au monde entier. N’hésitez pas.
• Enfin, en lien avec le DDT, ce qui suit pourrait vous intéresser si vos résultats scientifiques particuliers laissent entrevoir des avancées dans le domaine temporel :

Au cours du dernier semestre, Gemini a lancé un programme DDT spécifique intitulé « Once in a Rubin Gem ». Dans le cadre de cette initiative, le directeur de Gemini allouera 120 heures sur les trois prochaines années, spécifiquement pour le suivi rapide des découvertes les plus surprenantes et les plus intrigantes issues du Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) de l’observatoire Vera C. Rubin. Ceci se concentre sur des cibles spéculatives qui ont peu de chances d’être approuvées par les TAC habituels, mais qui recèlent un potentiel de découvertes passionnantes. Ce programme vient compléter d’autres programmes de cibles d’opportunité rapides (RToO), et toutes les données seront rendues publiques immédiatement. Consultez https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-i-proposing-time/dd-initiatives pour plus d’informations et pour les contacter.

CCAT Update

By/par Mike Fich (Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, fich@uwaterloo.ca) and the Canadian CCAT team

The primary mirror of the Fred Young Submillimeter telescope (FYST) was lifted into place on March 19!  The project is on schedule to have telescope assembly completed in time for the formal “Ribbon Cutting” event on site on April 9, 2026.  Telescope commissioning has begun with movement testing and mirror alignment.  The telescope remains on track for “First Light” to occur in the next few weeks.  The team maintains a public webpage showing the progress.

FYST is a 6-meter diameter submillimeter survey telescope and is located at the best submillimetre site that has been identified anywhere in the world.  The CCAT partnership is led by Cornell University with German, Canadian, and Chilean partners. The Canadian participation is channeled through the Canadian Atacama Telescope Consortium (CATC) and includes researchers at ten Canadian universities. The CCAT team is very much open to new members. We are especially encouraging new science ideas that we can explore with the amazing survey datasets we will create with FYST. If you have an interest in participating in the technology development (we have begun the development of the second generation instruments!) or in any of the Key Projects please contact Norm Murray (a CCAT Director), or a Key Project leader.

ALMA Matters

by Gerald Schieven and Brenda Matthews (NRC-HAA)

ALMA Cycle 13 Call for Proposals

 The ALMA Director, on behalf of the Joint ALMA Observatory and the partner organizations in East Asia, Europe, and North America, is pleased to announce that the ALMA Cycle 13 Call for Proposals (https://almascience.org/proposing/call-for-proposals) for scientific observations is now OPEN!  ALMA Cycle 13 is currently scheduled for observations from October 2026 to September 2027. Users of any nationality or affiliation are invited to submit proposals before the deadline of 15:00 UT on Thursday 23 April 2025.

Full information on capabilities, time availability, and how to submit a proposal, can be found at the following URL:  https://almascience.org/proposing/call-for-proposals

For the first time, a complete suite of receiver bands from Band 1 through 10 will be offered on the 12m-Array.  See the article below on Band 2.  In addition, proposals will be submitted using a completely web-based Observing Tool.  See the article below.

Band 2 offered for Cycle 13 and Science Verification data released!

  (67–116 GHz) is anticipated to be offered on the 12-m Array from the start of Cycle 13 (October 2026). As with previous new band introductions (e.g Band 1), the exact start date and number of available antennas may be subject to operational and technical constraints. Based on current receiver integration progress, up to ~43 Band 2 receivers may be available at the start of the cycle.

Band 2 capabilities offered are expected to include:

• Dual-polarization (i.e. total intensity) observing modes available on the 12-m Array, excluding Solar and Pulsar/VLBI.
• On-axis / narrow-field linear and circular polarization, with performance and uncertainties comparable to other ALMA bands.

The Band 2 offering remains subject to factors such as weather conditions, ongoing receiver integration activities, and overall resource availability. For further details, see the announcement at https://almascience.nrao.edu/news/update-on-band-2-for-early-proposal-planning-for-cycle-13.

Band 2 Science Verification data has been released. The data release consists of the following targets:

• G31.41+0.31: spectral scan in Band 2
• SPT 0027-50: spectral scan in Band 2
• Arp 220: spectral scan in Band 2 
• HR 5907: full polarization in Band 2

For full details, see the announcement at https://almascience.nrao.edu/news/announcement-of-intent-to-release-science-verification-data-in-band-2.

Web-based OT to be used for Cycle 13 proposal submission

ALMA is pleased to announce that, for the Cycle 13 Call for Proposals, a web-based interface of the ALMA Observing Tool (OT) will replace the previously used desktop-based OT. The web-based OT offers the same functionality as the desktop-based OT. The new interface offers a modernized and optimized view while retaining the same familiar workflow and structure. Proposal drafts will now be automatically saved within the system, without the need to save local files.

As always, users are strongly encouraged to submit their proposals early. This allows users to ensure that their proposals are correctly set up for successful submission, and allows time to seek support from local ARC staff if needed. While this has also been the guidance in previous cycles, Cycle 13 proposers may want to give this guidance special consideration while they gain familiarity with the web-based OT.

More details about the web-based OT are available in the Call for Proposals documentation https://almascience.nrao.edu/proposing/call-for-proposals

ALMA Ambassadors Cycle 13 Proposal Preparation Events

In advance of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Cycle 13 Call for Proposals deadline, the North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC), along with current ALMA Ambassadors, have organized a series of ALMA proposal preparation workshops from March 20 – 31, 2026. The goal of these events is to provide users with the knowledge they need to carry out cutting-edge scientific research using the ALMA facilities. We are particularly interested in reaching new users, so no experience with radio astronomy is required to participate!  Many of the workshops are hybrid (i.e. partly on-line), so please check the workshop links (below) if you wish to participate without having to travel.

These ALMA talks are hosted by experienced postdocs and graduate students as part of the ALMA Ambassadors program (https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/ambassadors-program/). Registration for these events is free. The workshops are designed to assist you in proposal preparation and observation planning for ALMA Cycle 13, and may include talks on the following topics:

• ALMA Basics and Cycle 13 Capabilities
• Radio Interferometry Basics
• Cycle 13 Proposal Preparation and the Proposal Review Process
• Introduction to the ALMA Observing Tool
• ALMA Data Products, Archive Use, and Notes on the Pipeline Weblog
• Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) Simulations

Information on the locations and dates for these workshops is available on the NAASC Community Events webpage <https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/community> and below.

• McMaster University (March 27; Woorak Choi) https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-mcmaster26
• Universidad de Valparaíso (March 20; Carla Cornil-Baïotto) https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-valparaiso26
• University of Florida.(March 24; Nazar Budaiev and Maria Galloway-Sprietsma) https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-florida26
• Indiana University (March 25; Nickolas Pingel) https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-indiana26
• Universidad de Atacama (March 25; Carla Cornil-Baïotto) https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-atacama26/
• University of Michigan (March 31; Teresa Paneque-Carreno) https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-michigan26

Later in the year, the ALMA Ambassadors will run another series of community events focused on the processing and analysis of ALMA data. Dates and locations for those events will be announced in future.

Canadian Proposal Success in Cycle 12

PIs from Canadian institutions did very well during the Cycle 12 call.  Canada has a nominal 7.125% stake in the North American share of the ALMA consortium.  In Cycle 12 Canadian PIs were awarded 13.9% of the North American fraction of 12-m Array time, much higher than the mere 1.8% we got in Cycle 11, and still significantly higher than the average over all cycles of 6.9%.  Note this is just for priority A+B projects.  Including grade C (fallback), Canadian PIs are still getting 13.4% of the 12m-array time, and 18.5% of the ACA time, both well above the nominal allocation.

Globally, there are Canadian PIs/coIs on almost 25% of all projects allocated at high (A+B) priority in Cycle 12.

ALMA Primer Video Series – New Releases

The ALMA Primer Instructional Video series, which can be found on the Science Portal at
https://almascience.nrao.edu/tools/alma-primer-videos, is designed to provide a basic introduction to radio interferometry, calibration, imaging, and other topics in short (5-10 minute), easy-to-digest segments. As a work in progress, new videos are released periodically.  Recently a new video has been released featuring a brief introduction to calibrating polarization data (https://youtu.be/E3Ojs3OxdMI?si=OuZPO70J1t7CpTeR).  Another video, an introduction to Primary Beams and Field-of-View (https://youtu.be/FzOCsraxQ1k?si=YC5Tm4q23t0iFmpO), was released in late summer.

Other videos in the series include an Introduction to Radio Interferometry, Calibration, CLEAN, and much more. Subscribe to the ALMA Primer Video Series YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@almaprimer920) to be alerted to new videos as they are released.

We are always looking for ideas for new videos, and especially looking for people who would like to help with script generation, animation, and narration. If you have an idea or would like to join the Primer Video Working Group (at any level of effort), please contact gerald.schieven[at]nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

Expected capabilities for Cycle 14

The ALMA Observatory is currently planning for the implementation and commissioning of the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/scientists/alma-2030-wsu/). The impact on science operations, including PI observations, for future observing cycles is currently being evaluated. However, for Cycle 14, the anticipated top-level capabilities — including available observing hours and configuration schedule — remain unchanged. The configuration schedule for Cycle 14 is therefore expected to be similar to that of Cycle 12. The precise information can be found at https://almascience.org/observing/observing-configuration-schedule/long-term-configuration-schedule.

For the capabilities of Cycles 15 and beyond, updates will be provided through the Science Portal once available.

See this announcement on the ALMA Science Portal at: https://almascience.nrao.edu/news/web-based-ot-for-cycle-13-call-and-expected-capabilities-during-cycle-14

Synthesis Imaging Summer Workshop

The NSF NRAO will be hosting the 21st Synthesis Imaging Summer Workshop (https://whova.com/web/Hs49eW8Z%40XxATfbPP3sKYYEAUFCmcHPF8SyHad%40doZo%3D/) in Socorro, New Mexico, from May 26th to June 3rd, 2026. The workshop will consist of a week of lectures on aperture synthesis theory and techniques at a level appropriate for graduate students in astrophysics, covering both radio interferometry fundamentals and state-of-the-art methods and techniques. The program will include discussion groups, and tutorials demonstrating data collection, calibration, and imaging of various types of observations, including new data from the NSF Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), NSF Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and a special tour to the NSF VLA site.

This year the workshop will also include a session on optical interferometry (lectures, tutorials), and a visit to the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) site.

Visit the workshop website (https://whova.com/web/Hs49eW8Z%40XxATfbPP3sKYYEAUFCmcHPF8SyHad%40doZo%3D/) for information on registration, program, and logistics.

By Patrick Côté (NRC-Herzberg), Tyrone Woods (University of Manitoba)

Detector Testing

• A project to test and characterize large-format CMOS, delta-doped devices for the CASTOR mission is underway at the University of Calgary. This project represents a long-term collaboration between NRC, JPL, Teledyne-e2v, Open University, UCalgary, UManitoba and CSA. The Vacuum UV Calibration Laboratory at the University of Calgary has been significantly upgraded to enable these tests, which are now underway. Results will be presented at the upcoming SPIE meeting in Copenhagen (July 5-10).

UVMOS Prototyping

• The NRC-led “Small Teams” project to prototype a DMD-based UV Multi-Object Spectrograph (UVMOS) for CASTOR is making good progress. Several subsystems (on detectors, DMD control electronics and re-windowing, UV coatings and gratings) have made significant progress since the last update, and it is expected that assembly and testing of the prototype will be begin in mid-2027. Several progress reports on this project will be given at the upcoming SPIE meeting.

CSA Request for Information

• In February, the CSA issued a Request for Information relating to an upcoming Space Technology Development Program (STDP) call for “Enabling Technologies for Future Missions” (Solicitation number 9F063-20250303). One of the four priority technologies listed in this call, Electronics for Large Mosaic Focal Plane Arrays of Astronomical Low Light Imagers, focuses specifically on CIS-300 detectors and supporting readout/control electronics for the CASTOR mission (with possible applications to HWO). It is expected this 2-year program will run from 2026 to 2028.

Phase A+ Study Planning

• NRC and CSA have completed a detailed project management plan for a CASTOR Phase A+ study that will move the mission to the next stage of its development. This anticipated 18- to 24-month study would consist of the standard tasks and deliverables for a Phase A study, plus significant breadboarding and prototyping activities needed to reduce technical risk and refine cost estimates for subsequent phases (B-E) in order to deliver a firm fixed price for the mission. As part of this plan, CSA and NRC have identified a possible governance framework for co-development of the mission, which may provide a roadmap for co-development of future Canadian space astronomy projects.

CASCA AGM and CASTOR

• The upcoming CASCA Annual General Meeting will feature an SKA/CASTOR lunch kindly sponsored by ACURA. A detailed program will be made available closer to the event.

Optical Telescope / Ground Station

• A preliminary site visit and tests have been carried out in Inuvik in support of a Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) proposal to build a hybrid optical telescope / ground station in the high arctic. Led by the University of Manitoba, this project aims to build and operate a 40cm optical telescope at the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF). This hybrid facility would be useable as both a research telescope, and an optical ground station. For more information, contact Tyrone Woods (Tyrone.Woods@umanitoba.ca) or Ryan Wierckx (wierckx1@myumanitoba.ca).

Lobbying Efforts

• The Coalition for Canadian astronomy is continuing its efforts to secure approval and funding of a Phase A+ study. More details may be found in the President’s report

For more information on the mission, see https://www.castormission.org

Spring 2026 PRIMA Update

by Locke Spencer, Doug Johnstone, David Naylor

Canadian participation in a far-infrared space astronomy mission is one of the key recommendations in both the CASCA LRP and CSA CSEW reports. The importance of Canadian involvement in the next NASA Probe (PRIMA or AXIS) was reconfirmed in the LRP MTR and the JCSA further recommended that the CSA provide statements of support for both missions in late 2025. In recognition of the importance of Canadian involvement, Locke Spencer has been named Canadian co-investigator to the PRIMA Mission within the PRIMA Concept Study Report submitted to NASA.

Over the last year PRIMA has produced a great deal of material on the science potential of the mission. November 2025 saw the release of the  PRIMA General Observer (GO) Science book volume 2 by the PRIMA science team, containing 120 unique GO science cases for the PRIMA mission. This is a follow-up to the volume 1 PRIMA GO release containing 76 cases. There was also a dedicated PRIMA issue of JATIS published in late 2025 with 38 papers, including a PRIMA Mission Concept Overview (Glenn et al. 2025). There are many Canadian connections and collaborations within the released GO books, and interested CASCA members can find additional details at the PRIMA webpage, by checking out upcoming and archived virtual sessions from the monthly PRIMA talk series, and by joining the Canadian Far-Infrared Space Astronomy mailing list.

Following the US government shutdown in late 2025, the NASA 2023 Astrophysics Probe AO Concept Study Report deadline for the two remaining Probe missions was extended to Jan. 29, 2026 in consultation with both project teams. The  AXIS and PRIMA teams both submitted their respective reports on time. Recently, NASA announced that the AXIS concept study was non-compliant and it was no longer eligible for launch consideration in this AO. The PRIMA Concept Study Report was deemed compliant and this leaves PRIMA as the sole remaining mission under consideration. The PRIMA team is preparing for a NASA evaluation panel site visit in May 2026.

Bespoke Canadian hardware has been part of the PRIMA probe instrumentation since its conception. On 3 October 2024 NASA selected the PRIMA mission as the far-infrared probe candidate and with it the Canadian Fourier Transform Spectrometer Mechanism (FTSM) as the critical component of the FIRESS high resolution spectrometer (see Buchan et al. 2025 . The FTSM is a signature Canadian technology which has been supported by the CSA for over a decade. NASA has requested that Canada provides the FTSM; the scientific return on this investment to Canadian astronomers will be at least twice that of Herschel. In addition to the provision of Canadian hardware for the FIRESS instrument, there has been discussion between the  PRIMA team and ABB/Bluesky Spectroscopy and ULethbridge Astronomical Instrumentation Group (AIG) regarding the next phase of hardware testing. Locke Spencer will be participating in the NASA review panel site visit as part of the PRIMA team.

We ask for the strongest support for PRIMA from the Canadian Astronomy community and from the CSA to realize this unique opportunity. Please reach out if you would like to be more involved, join the mailing list to receive updates, and look for more information on PRIMA at CASCA 2026.

CFHT News and Updates

By Nadine Manset (Director of Science Operations, on behalf of the CFHT ‘ohana)

Recently

The Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) report from the December 2025 meeting held in Waimea is available online on CFHT’s website (https://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/SAC/reports/SAC_report_Dec2025.php).

Emmanuel Bertin, former CFHT Resident Astronomer, released a Python-based exposure time calculator (ETC) for MegaCam (and also WIRCam), pyDIET (pydiet.cfht.hawaii.edu). There are functionalities that the current ETC doesn’t have, worth checking out!

Winter weather has posed significant challenges since February, with little improvement expected before the Spring Equinox. The February MegaCam run was severely impacted, and the current run may be lost entirely. Two shorter runs, one for SITELLE and one for WIRCam, also yielded very few observations. A particularly intense storm system brought winds exceeding 110 knots at the summit of Maunakea, along with more than 45 cm of rain over just a few days. These conditions highlight the unique and dynamic environment of Maunakea, where this work takes place.

Maunakea News

The Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA) was established in 2022 to « protect Mauna Kea for future generations and manage the lands for the purpose of fostering a mutual stewardship paradigm in which ecology, the environment, natural resources, cultural practices, education, and science are in balance and synergy ». The five-year transition period with the University of Hawaiʻi, which runs from mid-2023 to mid-2028, is now well past its halfway point. Among the many decisions relating to the management of the mountain’s summit area, MKSOA will decide on the future of astronomy on Maunakea in the new lease that will replace the current one, due to expire at the end of 2033.

In preparation for this new lease, MKSOA has engaged in an extensive consultation process with Hawaiʻi’s local communities with the help of a consulting group, Kua o Wākea (https://kuaowakea.org/). Ten meetings (https://kuaowakea.org/workshops/) were held across the Hawaiian Islands from mid-January to mid-February. CFHT actively participated in 9 of these 10 meetings, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the MKSOA process and vision, particularly the Kānāwai (https://kuaowakea.org/kuka-kanawai.mp4), which in Hawaiian tradition and culture refers to the natural processes regulating environmental resources. We urge astronomy staff interested in Maunakea astronomy and using data from Maunakea Observatories to familiarize themselves with the paradigm shift involving MKSOA. Extremely useful resources are, for example, available on the Kua o Wākea Resources page (https://kuaowakea.org/resources/).

Soon

The deadline for Community Survey (CS) proposals is April 30, 2026. We are excited by the ideas and collaborations generated by the Call for Proposals, and look forward to years of observations that will reflect the scientific interests of our communities and deliver high impact and high legacy value for years to come. Additional information on the CS and the Call is available here https://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/CommunitySurvey/CS-CfP/  For further information or inquiries, please reach out to the CSWG by email cswg-info@cfht.hawaii.edu

Later

In June, we are expecting the arrival of Wenaokeao, an optomechanical interface that will allow installing SPIRou and ESPaDOnS at the Cassegrain focus of the telescope at the same time. Thanks to a beam splitter that will separate the near IR and optical beams without affecting polarization, and relay optics, Wenaokeao will be used to observe with SPIRou only (no intervening optics), or with ESPaDOnS only (using relay optics), or with both SPIRou and ESPaDOnS simultaneously (using the beam splitter). Off-sky and on-sky tests will be performed during semester 2026B and Wenaokeao released for observing for 27A. For more details, please see https://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/instruments/VISION/

CFHT staff members will be at CASCA 2026 in Montréal. Given that the 2027 AGM will be virtual, we want to take advantage of all opportunities to interact with all our users. We hope to see you there!

Nouvelles et mises à jour du TCFH

par Nadine Manset (Directrice des opérations scientifiques, au nom de la ʻohana TCFH)

Récemment

Le rapport du Conseil scientifique consultatif (SAC) relatif à la réunion de décembre 2025, tenue à Waimea, est disponible en ligne sur le site web du CFHT (https://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/SAC/reports/SAC_report_Dec2025.php).

Emmanuel Bertin, ancien astronome résident du CFHT, a developpé un calculateur de temps d’exposition (ETC) basé sur Python pour MegaCam (ainsi que pour WIRCam), baptisé pyDIET (pydiet.cfht.hawaii.edu). Cet outil intègre des fonctionnalités absentes du calculateur actuel; il mérite donc d’être découvert!

Les conditions météorologiques hivernales posent des défis considérables depuis le mois de février, et aucune amélioration notable n’est attendue avant l’équinoxe de printemps. La campagne d’observations MegaCam de février a été sévèrement perturbée, et celle en cours risque d’être totalement compromise. Deux campagnes plus courtes, l’une dédiée à SITELLE et l’autre à WIRCam, n’ont, elles aussi, permis de recueillir que très peu d’observations. Une tempête d’une intensité exceptionnelle a généré des vents dépassant les 110 nœuds au sommet du Maunakea, accompagnés de plus de 45 cm de précipitations en l’espace de quelques jours seulement. Ces conditions illustrent le caractère unique et dynamique de l’environnement du Maunakea, cadre privilégié de nos travaux.

Nouvelles du Maunakea

Le Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA) a été créé en 2022 afin de « protéger le Mauna Kea pour les générations futures et de gérer les terres dans le but de favoriser un paradigme de gestion partagée, au sein duquel l’écologie, l’environnement, les ressources naturelles, les pratiques culturelles, l’éducation et la science coexistent en équilibre et en synergie ». La période de transition de cinq ans avec l’Université d’Hawaï — qui s’étend de la mi-2023 à la mi-2028 — a désormais largement dépassé son point médian. Parmi les nombreuses décisions relatives à la gestion du sommet de la montagne, la MKSOA statuera sur l’avenir de l’astronomie sur le Maunakea dans le cadre du nouveau bail qui remplacera l’actuel, dont l’échéance est prévue pour la fin de l’année 2033.

En préparation de ce nouveau bail, le MKSOA s’est engagé dans un vaste processus de consultation auprès des communautés locales d’Hawaï, avec le concours du groupe de conseillers Kua o Wākea (https://kuaowakea.org/). Dix réunions (https://kuaowakea.org/workshops/) ont été organisées à travers l’archipel hawaïen, de la mi-janvier à la mi-février. Le CFHT a participé activement à 9 de ces 10 réunions, ce qui nous a permis de nous immerger dans le processus et la vision de la MKSOA, et plus particulièrement dans le concept de Kānāwai (https://kuaowakea.org/kuka-kanawai.mp4), terme qui, dans la tradition et la culture hawaïennes, désigne les processus naturels régissant les ressources environnementales. Nous invitons vivement la communauté astronomique formée d’usagers qui s’intéressent à l’astronomie sur le Maunakea ou qui utilisent des données provenant des observatoires du Maunakea, à se familiariser avec le changement de paradigme induit par le MKSOA. Des ressources extrêmement utiles sont notamment disponibles sur la page « Resources » du site de Kua o Wākea (https://kuaowakea.org/resources/).

Bientôt

La date limite de soumission des propositions pour le Community Survey (CS) est fixée au 30 avril 2026. Nous nous réjouissons des idées et des collaborations suscitées par cet appel à propositions, et nous avons hâte de commencer des années d’observations qui refléteront les intérêts scientifiques de nos communautés et offriront un impact ainsi qu’une valeur scientifique considérables pour les années à venir. Des informations complémentaires sur le Community Survey et sur l’appel à propositions sont disponibles à l’adresse suivante : https://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/CommunitySurvey/CS-CfP/ Pour toute information complémentaire ou demande de renseignements, veuillez contacter le CSWG par courriel à l’adresse cswg-info@cfht.hawaii.edu

Plus tard

En juin, nous attendons l’arrivée de Wenaokeao, une interface optomécanique qui permettra d’installer simultanément SPIRou et ESPaDOnS au foyer Cassegrain du télescope. Grâce à un séparateur de faisceau qui divisera les faisceaux du proche infrarouge et du domaine optique sans altérer la polarisation ainsi qu’à une optique de relais, Wenaokeao pourra être utilisé pour observer soit avec SPIRou uniquement (sans optique intermédiaire), soit avec ESPaDOnS uniquement (en utilisant l’optique de relais), soit avec SPIRou et ESPaDOnS simultanément (en utilisant le séparateur de faisceau). Des tests en laboratoire et sur le ciel seront effectués au cours du semestre 2026B, et Wenaokeao sera mis à disposition pour les observations dès le semestre 27A. Pour plus de détails, veuillez consulter la page : https://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/instruments/VISION/

Des membres de l’équipe du TCFH seront présents au congrès CASCA 2026 à Montréal. Étant donné que l’édition de 2027 se tiendra en mode virtuel, nous souhaitons saisir toutes les occasions d’interagir avec l’ensemble de nos utilisateurs. Nous espérons vous y retrouver!

By Brenda Matthews & Gerald Schieven (NRC-HAA)

Cycle 12 Call for Proposals Open (March 20)

The ALMA Director, on behalf of the Joint ALMA Observatory and the partner organizations in East Asia, Europe, and North America, is pleased to announce that the ALMA Cycle 12 Call for Proposals (https://almascience.org/proposing/call-for-proposals) for scientific observations is now OPEN!

ALMA Cycle 12 is currently scheduled for observations from October 2025 to September 2026. Users of any nationality or affiliation are invited to submit proposals before the deadline of 15:00 UT on Thursday 24 April 2025.

Full details about capabilities, applying, and other information can be found at https://almascience.nrao.edu/documents-and-tools.

Proposal Preparation Webinar and Workshops

Webinar  – Join the ALMA Ambassadors for a webinar on 02 April at 2pm Eastern, in preparation for the Cycle 12 proposal deadline (24 April 2025). This webinar will provide an overview of the basics of ALMA, new capabilities in Cycle 12, and proposal preparation (including dual-anonymous and distributed peer review). The webinar will be followed by a brief Q&A session. Please register at: https://nrao-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M5as44qrR7qUoB851XrWAw

Workshops – The North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC) and the Cycle 12 ALMA Ambassadors have also organized a series of ALMA proposal preparation workshops, to take place between 21 March and 05 April 2025. The goal of these events is to provide users with the knowledge they need to carry out cutting-edge scientific research using ALMA. We are particularly interested in reaching new users, so no experience with radio astronomy is required to participate!

Registration for these workshops is free. The workshops are designed to assist you in proposal preparation and observation planning for ALMA Cycle 12, and may include talks on the following topics:

• ALMA Basics and Cycle 12 Capabilities
• Radio Interferometry Basics
• Cycle 12 Proposal Preparation and the Proposal Review Process
• Introduction to the ALMA Observing Tool
• ALMA Data Products, Archive Use, and Notes on the Pipeline Weblog
• Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) Simulations
• Science-ready Data Products

Workshops are being held in person as well as virtually in two locations in Canada:

• University of British Columbia (21 March; hosted by Anan Lu)
  • Information and registration at:  https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-ubc25
• McGill University (26 March; hosted by Anan Lu)
  • Information and registration at:  https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-mcgill25

In-person and virtual workshops are also being held in locations across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Chile. For information and registration for all workshops, please go to https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/community

These ALMA workshops and webinar are hosted by experienced postdocs and graduate students as part of the ALMA Ambassadors program, which is open to graduate students and postdocs at any institution in Canada or the United States. Check out https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/ambassadors-program/ for more information and to learn about applying.

ALMA Primer Video Series – New Releases

The ALMA Primer Instructional Video series, which can be found on the Science Portal at https://almascience.nrao.edu/tools/alma-primer-videos, is designed to provide a basic introduction to radio interferometry, calibration, imaging, and other topics in short (5-10 minute), easy-to-digest segments. As a work in progress, new videos are released periodically.  Recent videos include a brief introduction to how ALMA’s heterodyne receivers work (https://youtu.be/rpbaPNwntb0?si=JHsWTQ1OIYDTxali), and a series explaining sidebands, basebands and spectral windows (https://youtu.be/bm6vrEWAlYM?si=R2NIYvcZ1vnXBRd-), with practical examples on tuning setups (https://youtu.be/1zWwLrsBwA4?si=elgmOu8SGFtpKQaJ; https://youtu.be/18qE2-u0rMY?si=We49svch4_AfKctC). A new video on Primary Beams and Field-of-View is under production and is expected to be released by April 2025.

Other videos in the series include an Introduction to Radio Interferometry, Calibration, CLEAN, and much more. Subscribe to the ALMA Primer Video Series YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@almaprimer920) to be alerted to new videos as they are released.

We are always looking for ideas for new videos, and especially looking for people who would like to help with script generation, animation, and narration. If you have an idea or want to join the Primer Video Working Group (at any level of effort), please contact gerald.schieven[at]nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.