The Karl G. Jansky very large array sky survey (VLASS). Science case and survey design

M. Lacy; S. A. Baum; C. J.  Chandler; S. Chatterjee; T. E. Clarke; S. Deustua; J. English; J. Farnes; B. M. Gaensler; N. Gugliucci; G. Hallinan; B. R. Kent; A. Kimball; C. J. Law; T. J. W. Lazio; J. Marvil; S. A. Mao; D. Medlin; K. Mooley; E. J. Murphy; S. Myers; R. Osten; G. T. Richards; E. Rosolowsky; L. Rudnick; F. Schinzel; G. R. Sivakoff; L. O. Sjouwerman; R Taylor; R. L. White; J. Wrobel; H. Andernach; A. J. Beasley; E. Berger; S. Bhatnagar; M. Birkinshaw; G. C. Bower; W. N. Brandt; S Brown; S. Burke-Spolaor; B. J. Butler; JB Comerford; P. B. Demorest; H. Fu; S. Giacintucci; K. Golap; T. Guth; C. A. Hales; R. Hiriart; J. Hodge; A. Horesh; Z. Ivezic; M. J. Jarvis; A. Kamble; N. Kassim; L. Loinard; X. Liu; D. K. Lyons; J Masters; M. Mezcua; G. A. Moellenbrock; T. Mroczkowski; K. Nyland; C. P. O'Dea; S. P. O'Sullivan; W. M. Peters; K. Radford; U Rao; J Robnett; J Salcido; Y Shen; Angela Sobotka; S. Witz; M. Vaccari; R. J. van Weeren; A Vargas; P. K.G. Williams; I Yoon; NVSS

doi:10.1088/1538-3873/ab63eb

The Karl G. Jansky very large array sky survey (VLASS). Science case and survey design

M. Lacy^*, S. A. Baum, C. J. Chandler, S. Chatterjee, T. E. Clarke, S. Deustua, J. English, J. Farnes, B. M. Gaensler, N. Gugliucci, G. Hallinan, B. R. Kent, A. Kimball, C. J. Law, T. J. W. Lazio, J. Marvil, S. A. Mao, D. Medlin, K. Mooley, E. J. MurphyS. Myers, R. Osten, G. T. Richards, E. Rosolowsky, L. Rudnick, F. Schinzel, G. R. Sivakoff, L. O. Sjouwerman, R Taylor, R. L. White, J. Wrobel, H. Andernach, A. J. Beasley, E. Berger, S. Bhatnagar, M. Birkinshaw, G. C. Bower, W. N. Brandt, S Brown, S. Burke-Spolaor, B. J. Butler, JB Comerford, P. B. Demorest, H. Fu, S. Giacintucci, K. Golap, T. Guth, C. A. Hales, R. Hiriart, J. Hodge, A. Horesh, Z. Ivezic, M. J. Jarvis, A. Kamble, N. Kassim, L. Loinard, X. Liu, D. K. Lyons, J Masters, M. Mezcua, G. A. Moellenbrock, T. Mroczkowski, K. Nyland, C. P. O'Dea, S. P. O'Sullivan, W. M. Peters, K. Radford, U Rao, J Robnett, J Salcido, Y Shen, Angela Sobotka, S. Witz, M. Vaccari, R. J. van Weeren, A Vargas, P. K.G. Williams, I Yoon, NVSS

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Physics

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Abstract

The Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) is a synoptic, all-sky radio sky survey with a unique combination of high angular resolution ($\approx$2.5"), sensitivity (a 1$\sigma$ goal of 70 $\mu$Jy/beam in the coadded data), full linear Stokes polarimetry, time domain coverage, and wide bandwidth (2-4 GHz). The first observations began in September 2017, and observing for the survey will finish in 2024. VLASS will use approximately 5500 hours of time on the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to cover the whole sky visible to the VLA (Declination $>-40^{\circ}$), a total of 33,885 deg$^2$. The data will be taken in three epochs to allow the discovery of variable and transient radio sources. The survey is designed to engage radio astronomy experts, multi-wavelength astronomers, and citizen scientists alike. By utilizing an "on the fly" interferometry mode, the observing overheads are much reduced compared to a conventional pointed survey. In this paper, we present the science case and observational strategy for the survey, and also results from early survey observations.

Original language	English
Article number	035001
Number of pages	30
Journal	Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Volume	132
Issue number	1009
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/ab63eb
Publication status	Published - 28 Jan 2020

Keywords

Radio continuum: general
Surveys

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Lacy, M., Baum, S. A., Chandler, C. J., Chatterjee, S., Clarke, T. E., Deustua, S., English, J., Farnes, J., Gaensler, B. M., Gugliucci, N., Hallinan, G., Kent, B. R., Kimball, A., Law, C. J., Lazio, T. J. W., Marvil, J., Mao, S. A., Medlin, D., Mooley, K., ... NVSS (2020). The Karl G. Jansky very large array sky survey (VLASS). Science case and survey design. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 132(1009), Article 035001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/ab63eb

@article{1cbd2d4a95d74eb099fe7376eef9bbbc,

title = "The Karl G. Jansky very large array sky survey (VLASS). Science case and survey design",

abstract = " The Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) is a synoptic, all-sky radio sky survey with a unique combination of high angular resolution ($\approx$2.5{"}), sensitivity (a 1$\sigma$ goal of 70 $\mu$Jy/beam in the coadded data), full linear Stokes polarimetry, time domain coverage, and wide bandwidth (2-4 GHz). The first observations began in September 2017, and observing for the survey will finish in 2024. VLASS will use approximately 5500 hours of time on the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to cover the whole sky visible to the VLA (Declination $>-40^{\circ}$), a total of 33,885 deg$^2$. The data will be taken in three epochs to allow the discovery of variable and transient radio sources. The survey is designed to engage radio astronomy experts, multi-wavelength astronomers, and citizen scientists alike. By utilizing an {"}on the fly{"} interferometry mode, the observing overheads are much reduced compared to a conventional pointed survey. In this paper, we present the science case and observational strategy for the survey, and also results from early survey observations. ",

keywords = "Radio continuum: general, Surveys",

author = "M. Lacy and Baum, {S. A.} and Chandler, {C. J.} and S. Chatterjee and Clarke, {T. E.} and S. Deustua and J. English and J. Farnes and Gaensler, {B. M.} and N. Gugliucci and G. Hallinan and Kent, {B. R.} and A. Kimball and Law, {C. J.} and Lazio, {T. J. W.} and J. Marvil and Mao, {S. A.} and D. Medlin and K. Mooley and Murphy, {E. J.} and S. Myers and R. Osten and Richards, {G. T.} and E. Rosolowsky and L. Rudnick and F. Schinzel and Sivakoff, {G. R.} and Sjouwerman, {L. O.} and R Taylor and White, {R. L.} and J. Wrobel and H. Andernach and Beasley, {A. J.} and E. Berger and S. Bhatnagar and M. Birkinshaw and Bower, {G. C.} and Brandt, {W. N.} and S Brown and S. Burke-Spolaor and Butler, {B. J.} and JB Comerford and Demorest, {P. B.} and H. Fu and S. Giacintucci and K. Golap and T. Guth and Hales, {C. A.} and R. Hiriart and J. Hodge and A. Horesh and Z. Ivezic and Jarvis, {M. J.} and A. Kamble and N. Kassim and L. Loinard and X. Liu and Lyons, {D. K.} and J Masters and M. Mezcua and Moellenbrock, {G. A.} and T. Mroczkowski and K. Nyland and O'Dea, {C. P.} and O'Sullivan, {S. P.} and Peters, {W. M.} and K. Radford and U Rao and J Robnett and J Salcido and Y Shen and Angela Sobotka and S. Witz and M. Vaccari and {van Weeren}, {R. J.} and A Vargas and Williams, {P. K.G.} and I Yoon and NVSS",

year = "2020",

month = jan,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1088/1538-3873/ab63eb",

language = "English",

volume = "132",

journal = "Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific",

issn = "0004-6280",

publisher = "University of Chicago",

number = "1009",

}

Lacy, M, Baum, SA, Chandler, CJ, Chatterjee, S, Clarke, TE, Deustua, S, English, J, Farnes, J, Gaensler, BM, Gugliucci, N, Hallinan, G, Kent, BR, Kimball, A, Law, CJ, Lazio, TJW, Marvil, J, Mao, SA, Medlin, D, Mooley, K, Murphy, EJ, Myers, S, Osten, R, Richards, GT, Rosolowsky, E, Rudnick, L, Schinzel, F, Sivakoff, GR, Sjouwerman, LO, Taylor, R, White, RL, Wrobel, J, Andernach, H, Beasley, AJ, Berger, E, Bhatnagar, S, Birkinshaw, M, Bower, GC, Brandt, WN, Brown, S, Burke-Spolaor, S, Butler, BJ, Comerford, JB, Demorest, PB, Fu, H, Giacintucci, S, Golap, K, Guth, T, Hales, CA, Hiriart, R, Hodge, J, Horesh, A, Ivezic, Z, Jarvis, MJ, Kamble, A, Kassim, N, Loinard, L, Liu, X, Lyons, DK, Masters, J, Mezcua, M, Moellenbrock, GA, Mroczkowski, T, Nyland, K, O'Dea, CP, O'Sullivan, SP, Peters, WM, Radford, K, Rao, U, Robnett, J, Salcido, J, Shen, Y, Sobotka, A, Witz, S, Vaccari, M, van Weeren, RJ, Vargas, A, Williams, PKG, Yoon, I & NVSS 2020, 'The Karl G. Jansky very large array sky survey (VLASS). Science case and survey design', Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. 132, no. 1009, 035001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/ab63eb

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Karl G. Jansky very large array sky survey (VLASS). Science case and survey design

AU - Lacy, M.

AU - Baum, S. A.

AU - Chandler, C. J.

AU - Chatterjee, S.

AU - Clarke, T. E.

AU - Deustua, S.

AU - English, J.

AU - Farnes, J.

AU - Gaensler, B. M.

AU - Gugliucci, N.

AU - Hallinan, G.

AU - Kent, B. R.

AU - Kimball, A.

AU - Law, C. J.

AU - Lazio, T. J. W.

AU - Marvil, J.

AU - Mao, S. A.

AU - Medlin, D.

AU - Mooley, K.

AU - Murphy, E. J.

AU - Myers, S.

AU - Osten, R.

AU - Richards, G. T.

AU - Rosolowsky, E.

AU - Rudnick, L.

AU - Schinzel, F.

AU - Sivakoff, G. R.

AU - Sjouwerman, L. O.

AU - Taylor, R

AU - White, R. L.

AU - Wrobel, J.

AU - Andernach, H.

AU - Beasley, A. J.

AU - Berger, E.

AU - Bhatnagar, S.

AU - Birkinshaw, M.

AU - Bower, G. C.

AU - Brandt, W. N.

AU - Brown, S

AU - Burke-Spolaor, S.

AU - Butler, B. J.

AU - Comerford, JB

AU - Demorest, P. B.

AU - Fu, H.

AU - Giacintucci, S.

AU - Golap, K.

AU - Guth, T.

AU - Hales, C. A.

AU - Hiriart, R.

AU - Hodge, J.

AU - Horesh, A.

AU - Ivezic, Z.

AU - Jarvis, M. J.

AU - Kamble, A.

AU - Kassim, N.

AU - Loinard, L.

AU - Liu, X.

AU - Lyons, D. K.

AU - Masters, J

AU - Mezcua, M.

AU - Moellenbrock, G. A.

AU - Mroczkowski, T.

AU - Nyland, K.

AU - O'Dea, C. P.

AU - O'Sullivan, S. P.

AU - Peters, W. M.

AU - Radford, K.

AU - Rao, U

AU - Robnett, J

AU - Salcido, J

AU - Shen, Y

AU - Sobotka, Angela

AU - Witz, S.

AU - Vaccari, M.

AU - van Weeren, R. J.

AU - Vargas, A

AU - Williams, P. K.G.

AU - Yoon, I

AU - NVSS

PY - 2020/1/28

Y1 - 2020/1/28

N2 - The Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) is a synoptic, all-sky radio sky survey with a unique combination of high angular resolution ($\approx$2.5"), sensitivity (a 1$\sigma$ goal of 70 $\mu$Jy/beam in the coadded data), full linear Stokes polarimetry, time domain coverage, and wide bandwidth (2-4 GHz). The first observations began in September 2017, and observing for the survey will finish in 2024. VLASS will use approximately 5500 hours of time on the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to cover the whole sky visible to the VLA (Declination $>-40^{\circ}$), a total of 33,885 deg$^2$. The data will be taken in three epochs to allow the discovery of variable and transient radio sources. The survey is designed to engage radio astronomy experts, multi-wavelength astronomers, and citizen scientists alike. By utilizing an "on the fly" interferometry mode, the observing overheads are much reduced compared to a conventional pointed survey. In this paper, we present the science case and observational strategy for the survey, and also results from early survey observations.

AB - The Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) is a synoptic, all-sky radio sky survey with a unique combination of high angular resolution ($\approx$2.5"), sensitivity (a 1$\sigma$ goal of 70 $\mu$Jy/beam in the coadded data), full linear Stokes polarimetry, time domain coverage, and wide bandwidth (2-4 GHz). The first observations began in September 2017, and observing for the survey will finish in 2024. VLASS will use approximately 5500 hours of time on the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to cover the whole sky visible to the VLA (Declination $>-40^{\circ}$), a total of 33,885 deg$^2$. The data will be taken in three epochs to allow the discovery of variable and transient radio sources. The survey is designed to engage radio astronomy experts, multi-wavelength astronomers, and citizen scientists alike. By utilizing an "on the fly" interferometry mode, the observing overheads are much reduced compared to a conventional pointed survey. In this paper, we present the science case and observational strategy for the survey, and also results from early survey observations.

KW - Radio continuum: general

KW - Surveys

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079616174&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/1538-3873/ab63eb

DO - 10.1088/1538-3873/ab63eb

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

SN - 0004-6280

VL - 132

JO - Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

JF - Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

IS - 1009

M1 - 035001

ER -

The Karl G. Jansky very large array sky survey (VLASS). Science case and survey design

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Keywords

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