MEROPE · Merging European and Rubin Observatory efforts to probe the dark universE (MEROPE)

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Project objective

The nature of dark matter and dark energy stands out as the most tantalizing and unresolved problem in modern cosmology. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is the new-generation optical ground-based facility designed to shed light onto this cosmic puzzle by observing the effects of weak- and strong-gravitational lensing on thousands of galaxies in the sky. As with every new facility, ultimate performances are never achieved at the telescope’s first light, the first scientific image of the sky, but they require meticulous fine-tuning, optimization, and calibration of many instrumental and atmospheric effects. This proposal has a dual nature, including both instrumentation and scientific investigations. The instrumentation work is focused on minimizing the Observatory’s instrumental systematic errors and developing reliable calibration techniques to disentangle these optical artifacts from the intrinsic cosmological shear of weak- and strong-lensing effects and astrometric signals. The control of these systematic errors will enable high-quality scientific results, carrying out cutting-edge early science works on many Rubin science cases. The proposed instrumental and scientific activities will sustain the Vera C. Rubin Observatory revolution of our knowledge of the cosmos in many fields of astrophysics, thanks to its unprecedented field of view coupled with deep photometric sensitivity. The Rubin Observatory is a US-led observing facility with In-kind participation from 28 countries, with strong European participation, making it the ideal playground for a big international, multicultural, and inclusive environment that will play a major role in the astrophysics of the next decade. This project represents a unique opportunity for the training of engineers and scientists, for creating new connections and strengthening existing worldwide networks among the astronomical community, nourishing a generation of young researchers for the upcoming extremely large telescope era.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA · ROMACoordinatorItaly
• ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA · BolognaItaly
• CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisFrance
• CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENERGETICAS MEDIOAMBIENTALES Y TECNOLOGICAS · MADRIDSpain
• CONSEJO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Y TECNICAS (CONICET) · Buenos AiresArgentina
• Faculty of Mathematics, University of Belgrade · BelgradeSerbia
• MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV · MUNCHENGermany
• National Space Research and Development Agency · AbujaNigeria
• PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE · CambridgeUnited States
• RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG · HeidelbergGermany
• THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM · MADISON WIUnited States
• THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD · OxfordUnited Kingdom
• THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · CHICAGO ILLINOISUnited States
• THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER · ExeterUnited Kingdom
• TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · Princeton, NjUnited States
• UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA · SANTANDERSpain
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO II · NapoliItaly
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA · PadovaItaly
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO · PalermoItaly
• UNIVERSITE DE STRASBOURG · StrasbourgFrance
• UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN · RondeboschSouth Africa
• UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · Seattle WaUnited States

Links

• View on CORDIS
• DOI: 10.3030/101299854