The HST Ultraviolet Legacy Initiative for Star Formation and related Stellar Astrophysics

STScI Director Kenneth Sembach has decided to devote 600-1000 orbits of Director's Discretionary time in observing Cycles 27-28 to a new Hubble Ultraviolet Legacy Initiative focused on star formation and associated stellar astrophysics. The program will produce a publicly accessible, non-proprietary, legacy dataset that follows in the footsteps of the Hubble Frontier Fields Initiative.

A working group has been formed to engage with the scientific community and make recommendations to the Director for the scientific program [charter]. The HSTUV WG is now seeking community input to shape the science priorities and strategy. We are particularly interested in service programs that provide reference data sets less likely to be generated through GO time. The final program may consist of both imaging and spectroscopy, and may be constructed from a variety of suggestions, based on community interest. Two example programs are given below to illustrate the scope of this initiative. Others might include a deep, UV atlas of nearby galaxies, or mapping of a prototypical Galactic star-forming region.

A. UV spectral atlas of massive stars at low metallicity [example1]
B. UV imaging survey of massive star clusters and starbursts [example2]

We would value your reaction and input by December 7, 2018 for developing this initiative:

Question Title

* 1. What are the key, “must do” UV science questions in star formation and related stellar astrophysics that remain outstanding for HST?

Question Title

* 2. What kinds of programs would not be within the scope of the standard GO program?

Question Title

* 3. What factors would maximize science return? General comments on observing strategy for a UV Treasury (e.g., dedicated parallel observations, available ancillary data, etc):

Question Title

* 4. [Optional] Additional input and suggestions (e.g., comments on the examples above):

Question Title

* 5. [Optional] Name and email address:

In addition, you are also invited to submit 1-page suggestions to HSTUV@stsci.edu.

The HSTUV WG will review responses and meet January 17-18, 2019 to develop the recommendations. We will submit a report to the Director by the end of January. He will announce the plan for this Initiative in time to allow complementary and supplementary proposals to be submitted for HST Cycle 27.

Thank you for your input.  You will exit the survey upon completion.

T