SOAR Telescope operations in the next decade

摘要

The Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope is evolving to maximize scientific productivity in an era dominated by large surveys and multi-messenger astronomy, while still retaining its role as a vehicle for flexible scientific programs, and as a source of training for advanced students and other early-career scientists. It must also manage this evolution in a cost-effective way. We describe the evolution of the facility to software-intensive queue scheduling for a large fraction of the science time. During queue operation, the telescope operates as part of a network of facilities that will provide observations over a range of apertures, longitude and latitude, and instrumental capability. We further describe the renewal of telescope systems and the instrument suite that is required to ensure that the facility remains reliable and scientifically competitive over the next decade and beyond.