NOAO > Developing the Future
NOAO > Developing the Future |
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The combination of profound new astronomical discoveries and a growing realization of the enormous potential for even bigger future breakthroughs based on rapidly advancing technologies has led to an explosion of investment in a new generation of ground-based telescopes and instrumentation. The recent report of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee advocated a new model for U.S. ground-based astronomy if it hopes to achieve the full potential of these facilities.
The new model mandates new and challenging roles for NOAO: providing large facilities and complex capabilities that complement those provided by independent observatories, and working with those observatories, the broader astronomical community, and the National Science Foundation to ensure that the U.S. ground-based, optical-IR system as a whole evolves and continues to be competitive internationally.
NOAO is rapidly evolving to incorporate this new vision by embracing new roles and building on its strengths. The national observatory’s newly established Planning and Development Office has responsibility for guiding NOAO’s implementation of its part of the major initiatives recommend by the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey.
The Planning and Development Office brings together many diverse elements of the community to prepare a common vision, and plan for developing and enhancing the system of community telescopes, and it works to develop partnerships with university groups to develop major new instruments.
Future Directions:
Optical/Infrared System
Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope
Large Synoptic Survey Telescope
National Virtual Observatory
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NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. Last updated 28 March, 2001. |
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NOAO > Developing the Future |
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