Planning a Partnership Model for a Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope

30米望远镜（TMT）项目正在设计和计划建造和操作一个30米直径的光学/红外望远镜，该望远镜具有完全集成的自适应光学系统，以引领下一代望远镜在其大孔径的衍射极限进行观测。TMT的科学目标涉及对美国最近两次天文学和天体物理学十年期巡天的建议，这两次巡天高度重视可以通过巨大的分段镜望远镜完成的科学。位于夏威夷莫纳克亚山的TMT将是北方唯一的此类望远镜。TMT是加州理工学院、加州大学、加拿大大学天文学研究协会、日本国家天文台、中国科学院国家天文台牵头的中国机构联盟以及印度科学技术部支持的印度机构的合作项目。该奖项支持的五年规划活动将产生美国天文学社区科学计划，综合科学和教育计划，美国团体在TMT科学仪器方面合作的建议，美国运营计划和美国TMT数据管理计划。该奖项下的活动将包括一系列联合TMT美国国际论坛和年度研讨会以及美国天文学会年会上的城镇霍尔斯。NSF支持的天文学界的三名代表将成为TMT合作委员会的成员，确保美国在塑造该项目及其实施方面发挥作用。一个美国TMT科学咨询小组将与美国社区一起制定科学计划，该小组的三名成员将加入TMT科学咨询委员会，确保美国社区在指导TMT科学计划以及与其他TMT天文学社区互动方面的投入。TMT教育和公共外联咨询委员会将集中利益攸关方社区的广泛专业知识和兴趣，制定一项综合计划，在教育、劳动力发展和TMT在社会中的其他更广泛影响中利用TMT科学。 TMT将参与美国天文学界制定计划，以利用TMT的科学机会，并将TMT整合到美国的光学/红外观测系统中。通过与TMT的合作，美国天文学界将能够建立在已经位于莫纳克亚山的国家和国际天文台的实质性科学协同作用的基础上，并享受与参与TMT的国际天文学家合作的新机会。TMT还将受益于美国天文学社区在定义TMT技术系统和未来科学仪器方面的专业知识。作为一个领先的国家科学资源，TMT将为夏威夷的东道主社区带来兴奋，并在催化公众对天文学，科学和技术的兴趣方面发挥国家意义。在夏威夷现有项目计划的基础上，TMT将在教育和公共外联咨询委员会的指导下，与美国社区和教育利益相关者一起规划更广泛的美国教育和劳动力发展计划。 TMT位于太平洋中心，其前所未有的观测能力将成为环太平洋天文学界科学家合作的催化剂。作为对NSF 12-526招标的回应，NSF将与TMT项目合作，为TMT观测站规划一个合作模式，根据具体情况，NSF可能会在稍后的某个日期加入。

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project is designing and planning to construct and operate a 30-meter diameter optical/infrared telescope with fully integrated adaptive optics to lead the next generationof telescopes with observation at the diffraction limit of its large aperture. TMT science goals address therecommendations of the last two US decadal surveys of astronomy and astrophysics that gave high priority to the science that can be accomplished by a giant segmented mirror telescope. Sited on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, TMT will be the only such telescope in the northern hemisphere. TMT is a collaboration of California Institute of Technology, University of California, the Association of Canadian Universities for Research inAstronomy, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, a consortium of Chinese institutions led bythe National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and institutions in Indiasupported by the Department of Science and Technology of India. The five-year planning activity supported by this award will lead to a US astronomy community science plan, an integrated science and education plan, proposals for US groups to collaborate in TMT science instruments, a US operations plan, and a US TMT data management plan. Activities under this award will include a series of joint TMT US-international Forums and annual workshops and Town Halls at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society. Three representatives of the NSF-supported astronomy community will become members of the TMT Collaborative Board, assuring a US role in shaping the project and its implementation. A US TMT Science Advisory Group will engage the US community in developing the science plan, and three members of the Group will join the TMT Science Advisory Committee, assuring input by the US community in guiding the TMT science program and interaction with other TMT astronomy communities. A TMT Education and Public Outreach Advisory Board will focus the broad expertise and interest in stakeholder communities in developing an integrated plan to leverage TMT science in education, work force development and other broader impacts of TMT in society. TMT will engage the US astronomy community in their formulation of plans to exploit TMT scientificopportunities and to integrate TMT into the US optical/infrared observing system. By joining with TMT,the US astronomy community will be able to build on the substantial scientific synergy of national andinternational observatories already located on Mauna Kea and enjoy new opportunities to collaborate withthe international astronomers participating in TMT. TMT will also benefit from the expertise of the USastronomy community in defining TMT technical systems and future science instrumentation.As a leading national science resource, TMT will contribute excitement to its host community inHawaii, as well as national significance in catalyzing public interest in astronomy, science andtechnology. Building upon the project's existing plans in Hawaii, TMT will engage the US communityand education stakeholders in planning a broader US education and work force development programunder the guidance of an Education and Public Outreach Advisory Board. Sited in the center of the Pacific Ocean, TMT's unprecedented observational power will serve as a catalyst for collaboration among scientists in the Pacific Rim astronomy communities. In response to solicitation NSF 12-526, NSF will engage with the TMT Project to plan a partnership model for the TMT Observatory which, depending on circumstances, the NSF may join at some later date.