Letters of Intent for 2011

LoI 15:
New Horizons in Time Domain Astronomy

Topics

1. Stellar phenomena
2. Higher-energy phenomena
3. Variability detected through imaging
4. Variability in the radio domain
5. Galactic or cosmological events on micro- and macro-time-scales
6. The power of serendipity
7. Tools and techniques
8. Hands-on workshops
9. Recommendations (to database managers, software designers, new instruments)

Rationale

Every celestial object varies - secularly, periodically, subtly and sometimes violently - on time-scales that extend from microseconds to the Giga-years of evolution.  This symposium will preferentially examine the detection, measurement and analysis of changes in many fields of astronomy and astrophysics, concentrating on those where understanding and interpretation of change is pivotal for progress, and examining optimal ways to manage and access data to support these investigations.

An overview of the scope of variability, its importance for astrophysical understanding, and the potential for major advances resulting from new instrumentation and databases, will be given by several reviewers whose remits will be complementary (sorted either by wavelength, discipline or phenomena).

Focus topics will be further developed by a more extensive SOC and solicited through the call for papers.  The emphasis will be on discovery potential and impact, with the addition that speakers will be asked to address their needs for data access and tools for analysis and interpretation.  As far as is feasible, the afternoon workshops on software and database management ("tools and techniques") will be tailored to address the (consensus) needs which the  the morning speakers outline.  Those needs will also be anticipated through the submitted abstracts ("call for papers"), so that appropriate workshops can be arranged in advance.