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Photos Announcing poster SOC & LOC members About OASIS About ING About La Palma La Palma weather 5 May 2005  Conference organised by the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) |  Scientific rationale Integral-field spectroscopy and Adaptive Optics (AO) techniques are coming of age. A number of integral-field spectrographs are in operation around the world, and AO instruments are proliferating and becoming a standard feature of in particular the largest ground-based telescopes. The combination of integral-field spectrographs and AO is still a relatively unexplored area where the potential benefits for astronomy are huge. For that reason, a number of projects are under way or are being proposed that will take advantage of the most recent technological developments in these areas. The most prominent scientific prospects are expected to be in the areas of study of the dynamics of the central regions of elliptical galaxies and active galactic nuclei, spectroscopy of gravitationally lensed high-redshift galaxies, star formation regions and outflow of evolved stars, and the dynamics of crowded stellar fields. The advent of a new facility instrument at the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope, the OASIS Integral Field Spectrograph, working in conjunction with the NAOMI AO system has prompted this initiative for holding a workshop covering this area. Moreover, a laser guide star facility is currently under development, which will open up nearly the full sky to AO exploitation. This implies a huge new potential for AO assisted spectroscopy to be carried out on large samples of objects, as there no longer will be the restriction of having to have a nearby bright guide star. The workshop will focus on the scientific achievements and prospects of AO-assisted integral field spectroscopy, promoting discussion and sharing of experiences and ideas. The outcome could inspire new collaborations and ideas for observing programmes, while at the same time it would provide the observatory with scientifically inspired advice on how to maximally exploit the exciting possibilities of AO at the William Herschel Telescope. Organisation This workshop is organised by the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING), La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, with additional support from the Excmo. Cabildo Insular de La Palma (local government) and the Patronato de Turismo de La Palma (tourist board). See our web pages for an overview of ING and the observatory, and the strategic issues for ING, or our Public Information for more information on ING. The conference will be held in Hotel H10 Taburiente Playa, at Los Cancajos, La Palma (see our accommodation page), a beach resort close to the main town of Santa Cruz de La Palma and only a few minutes drive from the airport. Upon arrival at La Palma airport, take a short taxi or bus ride to get to Los Cancajos. Invited speakers
For information or questions, please contact the Local Organizing Committee at aoworkshop@ing.iac.es |