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(VLBA) while the National <strong>Astronomy</strong> and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) operates Arecibo observatories.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se centimeter-wavelength facilities provide the highest resolution and largest collecting area<br />

instruments in the world. Funding for Arecibo ($8M per year) and for NRAO’s VLBA, both still unique<br />

Major US Public Ground–<br />

based Telescopes<br />

Arecibo [R]<br />

Blanco [O]<br />

CARMA [R]<br />

CSO [R]<br />

Dunn [S]<br />

GBT [R]<br />

Gemini N [O]<br />

Gemini S [O]<br />

GONG[S]<br />

IRTF [IR] (NASA)<br />

Keck [O/IR] (NASA)<br />

Mayall [O]<br />

McMath-Pierce [S]<br />

SOAR<br />

VERITAS[γ]<br />

EVLA [R]<br />

VLBA [R]<br />

WIYN<br />

facilities, is being ramped down following the recommendations<br />

<strong>of</strong> the 2006 NSF <strong>Astronomy</strong> Senior Review 4 so as to optimize<br />

the program and release funds for operating new facilities. <strong>The</strong><br />

soon to be commissioned (in 2013) $1B Atacama Large<br />

Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is an international<br />

collaboration involving partners in North America, Europe and<br />

East Asia, with Chile as the host country (see Figure 6-4). In<br />

addition to these nationally managed facilities, NSF-AST funds<br />

operations and development at the university-based CARMA,<br />

ATA, and CSO ($8M per year combined) and NSF-OPP funds<br />

SPT ($2.5M per year), which together at $10M can be compared<br />

to NRAO funding ($67M per year). <strong>The</strong> small facilities provide<br />

unique scientific capabilities, training, and technical<br />

development, particularly for millimeter and sub-millimeter<br />

observations.<br />

<strong>The</strong> AST-supported ground-based optical/infrared<br />

facilities include the National Optical <strong>Astronomy</strong> Observatory<br />

(NOAO)-operated optical telescopes at Kitt Peak in Arizona and<br />

Cerro Tololo in Chile that are 4-meters (Mayall and Blanco) or<br />

smaller in diameter and are aging in terms <strong>of</strong> infrastructure.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y also include a half share with international partners United<br />

Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Australia, Brazil, Argentina in each <strong>of</strong><br />

the 8-meter northern (Mauna Kea) and southern (Cerro Pachon)<br />

Gemini telescopes (Figure 6-5). <strong>The</strong> Blanco and Mayall<br />

telescopes are being refurbished, partly in connection with DOE-supported dark energy projects. <strong>The</strong><br />

Gemini telescopes feature an operational laser guide star AO system at Gemini-North and there is the<br />

promise within a few years <strong>of</strong> multi-conjugate AO at Gemini-South to produce high-resolution images<br />

over a wide field <strong>of</strong> view. However, as discussed in the AST Senior Review and elsewhere, the Gemini<br />

FIGURE 6‐4 An artist conception <strong>of</strong> the ALMA array with roads, in the extended configuration. ©<br />

ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)<br />

4 For a <strong>copy</strong> <strong>of</strong> the report see http://www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/seniorreview/sr-report.pdf.<br />

PREPUBLICATION COPY—SUBJECT TO FURTHER EDITORIAL CORRECTION<br />

6-5

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