Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #60020 GLIMPSE360: Completing the Spitzer Galactic Plane Survey Principal Investigator: Barbara A. Whitney Institution: Space Science Institute Technical Contact: Barbara A. Whitney, Space Science Institute Co-Investigators: Richard Arendt, CRESST/UMBC/GSFC Brian Babler, University of Wisconsin Robert Benjamin, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Henrick Beuther, MPIA-Heidelberg Bidushi Bhattacharya, Spitzer Science Center Robert Blum, CTIO Steve Bracker, University of Wisconsin Chris Brunt, University of Exeter Sean Carey, Spitzer Science Center Ed Churchwell, University of Wisconsin Dan Clemens, Boston University Martin Cohen, University of California - Berkeley Bruce Elmegreen, IBM Research Division Peter Frinchaboy, University of Wisconsin Fabian Heitsch, University of Michigan Melvin Hoare, University of Leeds Joseph Hora, Harvard-Smithsonian CfA Remy Indebetouw, University of Virginia James Jackson, Boston University Thomas Jarrett, IPAC Charles Kerton, Iowa State University Henry Kobulnicky, University of Wyoming Kathleen Kraemer, Air Force Research Laboratory Phil Lucas, University of Hertfordshire Steve Majewski, University of Virginia Massimo Marengo, Harvard-Smithsonian CfA Marilyn Meade, University of Wisconsin Margaret Meixner, Space Telescope Science Institute Don Mizuno, Boston College Sergio Molinari, Instituto Fisica Spazio Interplanetario Matt Povich, University of Wisconsin Steve Price, Air Force Research Laboratory Jill Rathborne, Harvard-Smithsonian CfA William Reach, IPAC Neill Reid, Space Telescope Science Institute Jeonghee Rho, Spitzer Science Center Thomas Robitaille, University of St. Andrews Marta Sewilo, Space Telescope Science Institute Sachindev Shenoy, Spitzer Science Center Howard Smith, Harvard-Smithsonian CfA Nathan Smith, University of California - Berkeley John Stauffer, Spitzer Science Center Susan Stolovy, Spitzer Science Center Leonardo Ubeda, Universite Laval Schuyler Van Dyk, IPAC Jacco van Loon, University of Keele Kevin Volk, Gemini Observatory Christer Watson, Manchester College Michael Wolff, Space Science Institute Farhad Yusef-Zadeh, Northwestern University Gail Zasowski, University of Virginia Science Category: galactic structure Observing Modes: IracPostCryoMap Hours Approved: 1980.3 Abstract: We propose to map the remaining 187 degrees of the Galactic Plane that have not been observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope. The survey will cover longitude l=65-265 degrees excluding l ~102-109 and l~76-82. The latitude range will be 3.1 degrees, wider than the previous GLIMPSE surveys (2 degrees) because the disk flares more in the Outer Galaxy. The latitude center will follow the Galactic warp. Three visits on each sky position with 0.6&12s HDR frames will provide a high dynamic range of sensitivity that exceeds both GLIMPSE and the planned WISE mission surveys at both ends. This will allow us to determine the edge of the Galactic stellar disk, study low and high mass star formation in the nearby Perseus arm as well as in the Far Outer Galaxy, and study evolved stars throughout the Galaxy. The combination of GLIMPSE360 and the previous GLIMPSE (abs(l)<65 deg.) and smaller surveys will provide us with a lasting global dataset, encompassing most of the stars and star formation in our Galaxy. This database will allow us to determine the star-formation rate in the Galaxy, how the stellar disk scale heights and lengths vary across the Galaxy, and how the dust extinction law varies with location in the disk. In addition, we will catalog stars, star clusters, PAH bubbles, supernova remnants, infrared dark clouds, outflows from massive protostars, planetary nebulae, external galaxies in the Zone of Avoidance, and many other types of objects. Following the tradition of the previous GLIMPSE Legacy programs, we will deliver enhanced data products for the survey-source lists and cleaned mosaics-to the community.