prepublication copy - The Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics ...
prepublication copy - The Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics ...
prepublication copy - The Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics ...
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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