WEAVE-StePS: A stellar population survey using WEAVE at WHT

Iovino, A ORCID: 0000-0001-6958-0304, Poggianti, BM ORCID: 0000-0001-8751-8360, Mercurio, A ORCID: 0000-0001-9261-7849, Longhetti, M ORCID: 0000-0002-6142-4822, Bolzonella, M, Busarello, G, Gullieuszik, M, La Barbera, F, Merluzzi, P, Morelli, L, Tortora, C, Vergani, D, Zibetti, S, Haines, CP, Costantin, L, Ditrani, FR, Pozzetti, L, Angthopo, J, Balcells, M, Bardelli, S et al (2023) WEAVE-StePS: A stellar population survey using WEAVE at WHT. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 672. ISSN 0004-6361

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Abstract

Context. The upcoming new generation of optical spectrographs on four-meter-class telescopes will provide valuable opportunities for forthcoming galaxy surveys through their huge multiplexing capabilities, excellent spectral resolution, and unprecedented wavelength coverage. Aims. WEAVE is a new wide-field spectroscopic facility mounted on the 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope in La Palma. WEAVE-StePS is one of the five extragalactic surveys that will use WEAVE during its first five years of operations. It will observe galaxies using WEAVE MOS (∼950 fibres distributed across a field of view of ∼3 square degrees on the sky) in low-resolution mode (R ∼ 5000, spanning the wavelength range 3660-9590 Å). Methods. WEAVE-StePS will obtain high-quality spectra (S/N ∼ 10 Å -1 at R ∼ 5000) for a magnitude-limited (IAB = 20.5) sample of ∼25 000 galaxies, the majority selected at z ≥ 0.3. The survey goal is to provide precise spectral measurements in the crucial interval that bridges the gap between LEGA-C and SDSS data. The wide area coverage of ∼25 square degrees will enable us to observe galaxies in a variety of environments. The ancillary data available in each of the observed fields (including X-ray coverage, multi-narrow-band photometry and spectroscopic redshift information) will provide an environmental characterisation for each observed galaxy. Results. This paper presents the science case of WEAVE-StePS, the fields to be observed, the parent catalogues used to define the target sample, and the observing strategy that was chosen after a forecast of the expected performance of the instrument for our typical targets. Conclusions. WEAVE-StePS will go back further in cosmic time than SDSS, extending its reach to encompass more than ∼6 Gyr. This is nearly half of the age of the Universe. The spectral and redshift range covered by WEAVE-StePS will open a new observational window by continuously tracing the evolutionary path of galaxies in the largely unexplored intermediate-redshift range.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences; Astronomy & Astrophysics
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy Q Science > QC Physics
Publisher:	EDP Sciences
Date of acceptance:	18 January 2023
Date of first compliant Open Access:	26 June 2023
Date Deposited:	26 Jun 2023 12:45
Last Modified:	04 Jul 2025 18:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1051/0004-6361/202245361
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/20079

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