First Observations of Clusters with the Advanced Camera for Surveys of the Hubble Space Telescope

The Advanced Camera for Surveys is a new powerful camera that was fitted to the Hubble Space Telescope in March 2002. We (Franx and Miley) are members of the ACS Science Team (AST). In recognition for their contribution in developing the ACS, NASA awarded the ACT about 650 orbits of observing time on Hubble. These data are being taken during the period 2002 - 2005.

The major scientific goal of the AST in using their guaranteed time (~300 orbits) is to use the superior sensitivity, wide field and angular resolution of the ACS to study clusters of galaxies over a huge range of distance, ranging from the nearby Universe to the most distant galaxy structures known.

The ACS data (unique spatial resolution) will be compared with ground-based data from large telescopes, such as the VLT (kinematics and colors). The aims will be to use the new ACS data to constrain the formation and evolution of galaxy clusters. Specific goals of the proposed workshop will be (i) to present and discuss the first data and (ii) to write drafts of relevant papers. A Lorentz-style workshop format is ideal for achieving these goals.