[dekhn]

We also simulated the LSST- in this case, using Exacycle at google (an idle cycle harvester). We took a star catalog and passed it through a highly accurate ray tracer that simulated the light falling on the sensors (through space, atmosphere, etc). Apparently it found some bug in the design that was fixed before some expensive part was built (my coworkers were the subject matter expert, I mainly built the exacycle software and sat in on the meetings).

[jpizagno]

Wow! We also had some ray tracing software, and at one point, my job was to deliver the star (and galaxy) catalogs to the Google office in Seattle. If you worked with the Image Simulation team at U. of Washington in Seattle, then our paths almost crossed, and we might've been on conference calls together.

[dekhn]

Yes, you probably interacted with my coworker Jeff (first on this list: https://research.google/blog/millions-of-core-hours-awarded-...)