The SCUBA-2 "All-Sky" Survey

TL;DR

The SCUBA-2 All-Sky Survey aims to map a large portion of the sky at sub-millimetre wavelengths to better understand the properties of the sub-millimetre sky and identify rare bright objects.

Contribution

This paper introduces the design and scope of the first large-area sub-millimetre survey using SCUBA-2, covering 4800 square degrees for the first time.

Findings

First large-area sub-millimetre sky map from SCUBA-2

Detection of rare bright sub-millimetre objects expected

Establishment of a pilot for a comprehensive all-sky survey

Abstract

The sub-millimetre wavelength regime is perhaps the most poorly explored over large areas of the sky, despite the considerable effort that has been expended in making deep maps over small regions. As a consequence the properties of the sub-millimetre sky as a whole, and of rare bright objects in particular, remains largely unknown. Here we describe a forthcoming survey (the SCUBA-2 ``All-Sky'' Survey, or SASSy) designed to address this issue by making a large-area map of approximately one-fifth of the sky visible from the JCMT (4800 square degrees) down to a 1 sigma noise level of 30 mJy/beam. This map forms the pilot for a much larger survey, which will potentially map the remaining sky visible from the JCMT, with the region also visible to ALMA as a priority. SASSy has been awarded 500 hours for the 4800 square degree pilot phase and will commence after the commissioning of SCUBA-2, expected in early 2008.