Preparing for the Next Generation of Science with Galaxy Clusters: Lessons Learned from DECam and Visions for LSST

Speaker: 
Anthony Englert
Institution: 
Brown University
Date: 
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time: 
4:00 pm
Location: 
RH 160

Abstract: Over the past several years, the Local Volume Complete Cluster Survey (LoVoCCS) has been leading a volume-complete survey of over 100 local (0.03 < z < 0.12), X-ray luminous (L500 > 1044 erg s-1) galaxy clusters. LoVoCCS provides a low-redshift anchor for the properties of galaxy clusters which future simulations and higher redshift surveys can utilize and has been reduced using the LSST Science Pipelines architecture, providing a platform for future cluster science with LSST. In this talk, I will discuss the “third generation” pipeline for reducing LoVoCCS data and use it to carry out a weak lensing analysis of the Hercules Supercluster. Then, I will review the lessons learned from reducing LoVoCCS observations and discuss what the next generation of volume-complete cluster surveys will look like.

Host: 
Paul Robertson