NSF Org:	AST Division Of Astronomical Sciences
Recipient:	MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Initial Amendment Date:	July 5, 2006
Latest Amendment Date:	August 12, 2008
Award Number:	0607686
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	Thomas S. Statler AST  Division Of Astronomical Sciences MPS  Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date:	July 15, 2006
End Date:	June 30, 2009 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$0.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$149,706.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2006 = $75,322.00 FY 2007 = $74,384.00
History of Investigator:	Robert Simcoe (Principal Investigator) simcoe@space.mit.edu Scott Burles (Former Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE CAMBRIDGE MA  US  02139-4301 (617)253-1000
Sponsor Congressional District:	07
Primary Place of Performance:	Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE CAMBRIDGE MA  US  02139-4301
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	E2NYLCDML6V1
Parent UEI:	E2NYLCDML6V1
NSF Program(s):	EXTRAGALACTIC ASTRON & COSMOLO
Primary Program Source:	app-0106  app-0107
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, 1207, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	121700
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.049

ABSTRACT

This is a collaborative project, lead 0607686/Burles, non-leads 0607541/Eisenstein and 0607701/Blanton.

This project represents the first stage of the PRIsm MUlti-object Survey (PRIMUS), whose ultimate goal is to map a large volume of the Universe around redshift one, a volume comparable to those already mapped in the local Universe. Low-resolution prism spectroscopy in the large field of view allowed by the 6.5m Magellan telescope at Las Campanas, Chile, determines redshifts for faint galaxies at much higher rates than previously possible. This phase covers commissioning the instrument and obtaining about 125,000 galaxy redshifts in regions of the sky with other deep data already available. It will enable measurement of the growth of galaxies, the environmental dependence of morphology, and the correlation function, all as a function of time. In addition to providing a state-of-the-art sample, the PRIMUS commissioning project will test plans for the full PRIMUS.

Both raw and reduced data will be made public as they become available, providing a valuable resource to the astrophysics community. If successful, this project is also likely to influence the design of future large surveys. Since redshifts turn two-dimensional images into three-dimensional maps, the project will also explore the outreach and teaching tools that can be created from cosmic maps of such a tremendous volume of the Universe. Graduate student involvement is critical, and undergraduate involvement will be encouraged.

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