Speaker: Michael Prouza, FZU Prague, Czech Republic
Abstract: For a few decades it is clear that astronomy and particle physics share a number of interesting topics. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) is one of the newest proofs that these two significantly different communities can also effectively cooperate within one project. Construction of the unique 8.4-meter LSST telescope started earlier this year. The telescope will be equipped with a huge 3.2 Gigapixel camera and will have a field of view of 10 square degrees. During single 15-second exposures it will capture stars up to 25th magnitude, and the whole accessible sky will be covered every three nights. During 10 years of operation, the LSST will create a "movie of the deep space" - each spot on the sky will be imaged at least 300 times. After its completion in 2014, the LSST will be the most advanced surface tool for the mapping of dark energy and dark matter, and the most sensitive instrument for detection and identification of any transient sources. Thus, the LSST will e.g. collect an unprecedented number of supernovae and will identify the trajectories of most of the so-called Earth Threatening Asteroids. In my talk I will discuss the current status, the technical challenges, and the potential scientific impacts of the LSST project.