LSST: Enabling New Science
Image of asteroid 951 Gaspra taken from the Galileo spacecraft. The object is about 19x12x11 kilometers in size, similar to those whose impacts cause mass extinctions on Earth.
The opportunity for scientific discovery enabled by this confluence of technologies is enormous. Panels of astronomers and physicists have identified key scientific questions which will be answered by LSST in virtually all areas of astronomy. LSST has been recommended as a high national priority by the National Academy of Sciences in decadal surveys in astronomy, astrophysics and solar system exploration. LSST's contribution to fundamental physics (dark energy) was emphasized by the recent NAS report "Quarks to Cosmos" which strongly recommended construction of LSST. The breadth and scope of the science which LSST will address is too great to cover in any detail here. As in any significant advance in science, it is likely that the most transforming discoveries LSST will make are not on our current list of compelling science needs.
It is possible, for example, that by opening the time window on the universe, LSST will discover energetic events which we cannot imagine. Instead, we provide a description of two of the many areas of scientific discovery in which LSST will certainly play a major role. By exploring the near-Earth environment, LSST will provide insight into the formation of the solar system and play a major role in protecting Earth from the threat of asteroid collisions. By providing very deep images of the entire sky, LSST will enable new understanding of the nature and origin of the universe itself.
