Herschel Space Observatory Calibration Workshop: Models and observations of astronomical calibration sources

The Herschel Space Observatory is the fourth cornerstone mission in the ESA science "Horizon 2000" plan. It will carry a 3.5 meter passively cooled telescope, and will perform imaging photometry and spectrometry in the far-infrared and submillimetre part of the spectrum, covering approximately the 60-670 micrometres range. The science payload consists of three instruments which will be provided by consortia led by Principal Investigators: The Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared, HIFI, whose PI is Th. de Graauw, SRON, Groningen, The Netherlands; the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer, PACS, whose PI is A. Poglitsch, MPE, Garching, Germany; and the Spectral and Photometric Imaging REceiver, SPIRE, whose PI is M. Griffin, Cardiff University, UK. Herschel is the first space facility dedicated to the submillimetre and far-infrared, and will be operated as a multi-user astronomical observatory that will provide observation opportunities to the entire astronomical community. The launch is scheduled for the first quarter of 2007.

The Herschel Space Observatory wavelength coverage and unprecedented sensitivity, make the calibration of the instruments particularly challenging. In this partially unexplored spectral range, the photometry and spectral energy distributions of astronomical calibration sources are derived from a combination of space and ground observations with theoretical or semi-empirical models. Providing the Herschel mission with suitable and well understood calibration sources will ensure the mission's accuracy and scientific validity.

The main purpose of the workshop is to provide an overview of the state of the art of models, observations and laboratory spectroscopic studies associated with Herschel calibration sources, and to facilitate the discussion between experts. The workshop will bring together Herschel calibration scientists, modellers, observers, and calibration scientists from other observatories that cover similar wavelength regions. Theoreticians and observers will be given an insight into the Herschel calibration requirements and into the areas that need further preparatory work. Likewise, calibration scientists will obtain useful information for the preparation of the instrument calibration plans. The output of the workshop will be a compilation in the form of viewgraphs and articles, and a summary report which will include a concrete plan for future collaborations. It is clear that such an effort will be beneficial not only to Herschel, but also to other present and future observatories in the far-infrared and submillimetre part of the spectrum (e.g SOFIA, ALMA).

The meeting is organized and led by the Herschel Calibration Steering Group. Contact people are:

Ana Heras (ESA/RSSD, The Netherlands)

Thijs de Graauw (SRON, The Netherlands)

Dieter Lutz (MPE, Germany)

Joris Blommaert (KUL, Belgium)

Peter Hargrave (Cardiff University, United Kingdom)

Martin Harwit (Cornell University, USA)

Sarah Leeks (ESA/RSSD, The Netherlands