Optimizing the U.S. Ground-Based Optical and Infrared Astronomy System (Space Exploration and Weather) - Softcover

National Research Council; Division On Engineering And Physical Sciences; Board On Physics And Astronomy; Committee On A Strategy To Optimize The U.S. Optical And Infrared System In The Era Of The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309371864 ISBN 13: 9780309371865

Publisher: National Academies Press, 2015

Synopsis

New astronomical facilities, such as the under-construction Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and planned 30-meter-class telescopes, and new instrumentation on existing optical and infrared (OIR) telescopes, hold the promise of groundbreaking research and discovery. How can we extract the best science from these and other astronomical facilities in an era of potentially flat federal budgets for both the facilities and the research grants? Optimizing the U.S. Ground-Based Optical and Infrared Astronomy System provides guidance for these new programs that align with the scientific priorities and the conclusions and recommendations of two National Research Council (NRC) decadal surveys, New Worlds, New Horizons for Astronomy and Astrophysics and Vision and Voyages for Planetary Sciences in the Decade 2013-2022, as well as other NRC reports.

This report describes a vision for a U.S. OIR System that includes a telescope time exchange designed to enhance science return by broadening access to capabilities for a diverse community, an ongoing planning process to identify and construct next generation capabilities to realize decadal science priorities, and near-term critical coordination, planning, and instrumentation needed to usher in the era of LSST and giant telescopes.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Science from Major U.S. Ground-Based OIR Investments
• 3 The U.S. OIR System
• 4 Pursuing the Science in the LSST and GSMT Era
• 5 Realizing the Full Science Potential of LSST
• 6 Optimizing the U.S. OIR System
• 7 Epilogue
• Appendixes
• Appendix A: Request for White Papers
• Appendix B: Observatory Demographics
• Appendix C: Acronyms

About this edition

• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0309371864
• ISBN 13: 9780309371865
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 134