NSF Portion of Visitor Support Costs for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility

由于不同的天体物理过程显示出不同波长的特征发射，天文学家寻找许多不同的波长窗口来观察宇宙。由于传统的光学观测站难以进行红外观测，美国宇航局于20世纪70年代中期在夏威夷莫纳克亚山顶建造了一台3米高的专用望远镜。然而，美国宇航局决定，总观测时间的一半可以满足其需求，并将另一半分配给游客。自1979年望远镜开放以来，美国国家科学基金会一直为这些访客提供资金支持。当美国国家航空航天局的观测者在某种程度上检查与美国国家航空航天局太空任务有关的物体时，游客可以自由地观察任何有足够科学兴趣的物体，无论是在银河系内还是在银河系外。这笔数额不大的钱用于住宿、当地交通、制冷设备（用于冷却接收器）和在科学期刊上发表论文。该项目的成功和多样性充分证明了继续为其提供资金是合理的。

9525903 Hall Because different astrophysical processes show characteristic emission at different wavelengths, astronomers seek many different wavelength windows to the universe. The difficulty of making infrared observations from typical optical observatories led NASA to construct a 3-meter dedicated telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii in the mid-1970's. NASA decided, however, that half the total observing time would satisfy its needs, and allocated the other half to visitors. The National Science Foundation has provided funds to support these visitors since the opening of the telescope in 1979. While the NASA observers examine objects related in some way to NASA space missions, the visitors are free to observe any object of sufficient scientific interest, whether in or out of our Galaxy. The modest amount of money is used for accommodations, local transportation, cryogen (to cool the receivers), and publication in the scientific journals. The success and diversity of the program fully justify its continued funding.