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IAU Focus Meeting FM11: JWST: Launch, Commissioning, and Cycle 1 Science

20th August 2018 - 22nd August 2018
Vienna, Austria
http://astronomy2018.univie.ac.at/focusmeetings/fm11/
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Abstract

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the near- to mid-infrared sky by enabling observations with an unprecedented combination of superb angular resolution and sensitivity. Since JWST is a general-purpose observatory, its scientific success is dependent on the broader scientific community to make new discoveries. The 2018 IAU General Assembly is uniquely timed in the life cycle of JWST. Commissioning and Cycle 1 science plans will have been finalized by August 2018, thus the 2018 IAU GA will provide an important international platform to inform the broader community of what to expect in the coming months for JWST. This focus meeting will highlight the science that will be enabled by JWST early in its life cycle and touch on commissioning, Early Release Science (ERS), Guaranteed Time Observer (GTO), and General Observer (GO) programs slated for cycle 1. Members of the design team for the four JWST science instruments (MIRI, NIRCam, NIRSpec, and NIRISS) will discuss the science potential of their instruments. Talks and discussion sessions aimed at the broad science topics enabled by JWST, from our solar system to the edge of the universe, will be drawn from contributions from the entire astronomical community. Given the cross-disciplinary and international nature of JWST¹s mission, this focus meeting will be the ideal opportunity to discuss the science that will be enabled with JWST in the near-term.

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