Management, Operations, and Associated Projects for the National Optical Astronomy Observatory

国家光学天文台的管理、运营和相关项目

• 批准号: 0809409
• 负责人: Charles Mattias Mountain
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-10-01 至 2019-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0809409&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Management; Operations; Associated; Projects; National

Under terms of this Cooperative Agreement, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. will manage and operate the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) and associated projects on behalf of the National Science Foundation and the national community of ground-based, optical/infrared astronomy researchers. AURA will provide a national observatory that offers U.S. astronomers access to a complete and balanced suite of ground-based, optical and infrared observing facilities. In addition AURA will establish priorities and processes to create a superior national observing system and to enable new, cutting-edge facilities, aided by inventive, public-private partnerships.NOAO will provide forefront facilities and scientific instruments for researchers at Kitt Peak National Observatory and Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory based on the principle of scientific merit, as well as expert in-house support and data analysis tools. At these observatories NOAO provides a range of assets that include four telescopes of 4-meter class. NOAO also serves as the U. S. national gateway to the twin 8-meter telescopes of the Gemini Observatory and to many non-federal US observatories through the Telescope System Instrumentation Program. Scientists and engineers at NOAO are partnering with public-private consortia in the design and development of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and two Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope projects. At the highest level NOAO will enable a research portfolio designed to provide quantifiable tests of the grandest emerging astronomical theories, from the processes that govern planetary formation and stellar output to the accelerating Universe, cosmic inflation, and the nature of dark energy. Broader impacts of this program include providing access to astronomical research facilities to the entire community on the basis of intellectual merit, archiving and distribution of data to enable future investigations, and developing next generation astronomical instruments and facilities. NOAO leads a broad program in education for public visitors to its facilities, undergraduates interested in astronomy, graduate students conducting dissertation research in astronomy, and postdoctoral researchers desiring access to its facilities. Under terms of this Cooperative Agreement NOAO will vigorously promote the advancement of under-represented minorities and persons with disabilities in astronomy and related sciences.

根据本合作协议的条款，天文学研究大学协会（AURA），Inc。该机构将代表国家科学基金会和国家地基光学/红外天文学研究人员社区管理和运营国家光学天文台（NOAO）及其相关项目。 AURA将提供一个国家天文台，为美国天文学家提供一套完整而平衡的地基、光学和红外观测设施。此外，AURA将确定优先事项和程序，以建立一个上级国家观测系统，并在创造性的公私伙伴关系的帮助下，启用新的尖端设施，NOAO将根据科学价值的原则，为Kitt Peak国家观测站和Cerro Tololo Interamerican天文台的研究人员提供最前沿的设施和科学仪器，以及内部专家支持和数据分析工具。 NOAO在这些天文台提供了一系列资产，其中包括四台4米级望远镜。 NOAO也是美国国家航空航天局（U. S.国家门户网站，双子座天文台的双8米望远镜和许多非联邦美国天文台通过望远镜系统仪器计划。NOAO的科学家和工程师正在与公私财团合作，设计和开发大型综合巡天望远镜和两个巨型分段镜望远镜项目。 在最高级别上，NOAO将实现一个研究组合，旨在为最宏伟的新兴天文学理论提供可量化的测试，从管理行星形成和恒星输出的过程到加速的宇宙，宇宙膨胀和暗能量的性质。 该计划的更广泛的影响包括在知识价值的基础上向整个社区提供天文学研究设施，存档和分发数据以使未来的调查成为可能，以及开发下一代天文仪器和设施。 NOAO领导着一个广泛的教育计划，面向参观其设施的公众，对天文学感兴趣的本科生，进行天文学论文研究的研究生，以及希望使用其设施的博士后研究人员。根据该合作协议的条款，NOAO将大力促进代表性不足的少数民族和残疾人在天文学和相关科学方面的进步。