A national scientific priority
The 8.4m Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) is a wide-field telescope facility that will add a qualitatively new capability in astronomy. For the first time, the LSST will provide time-lapse digital imaging of faint astronomical objects across the entire sky. The LSST has been identified as a national scientific priority in reports by diverse national panels, including several National Academy of Sciences and federal agency advisory committees. This judgment is based upon the LSST's ability to address some of the most pressing open questions in astronomy and fundamental physics, while driving advances in data- intensive science and computing. View the current Baseline Configuration of the LSST or check out our overview paper.
New windows on the Universe
The LSST will provide unprecedented 3-dimensional maps of the mass distribution in the Universe, in addition to the traditional images of luminous stars and galaxies. These mass maps can be used to better understand the nature of the newly discovered and utterly mysterious Dark Energy that is driving the accelerating expansion of the Universe. The LSST will also provide a comprehensive census of our solar system, including potentially hazardous asteroids as small as 100 meters in size. Finally, LSST's rapid scans of the sky will open the "time window", searching for faint bursts of light. Click here to view the Exposure Time Calculator. Find out more from the Community Science Input and Participation page.
The work on the project is broken down into three main areas: The Camera, Telescope & Site, and Data Management. Details can be found on the LSST System tab.
A Public-Private Partnership
The LSST is a Public-Private partnership, and the data will be made public immediately. A non-profit corporation, called the LSST Corporation, has been set up to manage the collaboration of over 100 scientists and engineers, and to raise private and agency funding. The LSST Project is a collaboration of a number of national labs and organizations. If you would like to be a part of this new voyage of discovery and help us fund the LSST Project, please contact the LSST Corporation.
If your scientific interests include LSST, consider joining or forming a Science Working Group.