Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Solar System Science Roadmap

TL;DR

The LSST Solar System Science Roadmap outlines how LSST will revolutionize Solar System studies over a decade, prioritizing research areas and informing survey strategies to maximize scientific returns.

Contribution

This paper presents a prioritized roadmap for Solar System science with LSST, guiding survey cadence decisions and software development for planetary research.

Findings

Identifies key Solar System research priorities for LSST.

Provides a framework for survey cadence optimization.

Highlights necessary tools and pipelines for data analysis.

Abstract

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) is uniquely equipped to search for Solar System bodies due to its unprecedented combination of depth and wide field coverage. Over a ten-year period starting in 2022, LSST will generate the largest catalog of Solar System objects to date. The main goal of the LSST Solar System Science Collaboration (SSSC) is to facilitate the efforts of the planetary community to study the planets and small body populations residing within our Solar System using LSST data. To prepare for future survey cadence decisions and ensure that interesting and novel Solar System science is achievable with LSST, the SSSC has identified and prioritized key Solar System research areas for investigation with LSST in this roadmap. The ranked science priorities highlighted in this living document will inform LSST survey cadence decisions and aid in identifying software tools and pipelines needed to be developed by the planetary community as added value products and resources before the planned start of LSST science operations.