Cooperative Agreement for the Management, Operation and the Maintenance of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO)

该奖项是根据AST 8947990与联合天文学研究大学(AURA)达成的合作协议授予的，用于国家光学天文台的管理、运行和维护。1990财年的研究计划将涵盖从太阳和太阳系到恒星、星系和类星体，再到宇宙的起源和结构的天文学课题。仪器计划将包括自适应光学系统、红外阵列以及多目标光谱仪的设计和开发工作。主要的倡议计划是发展一个研究太阳振荡的全球网络，以及抛光和测试大型轻量镜的技术。NOAO由基特峰国家天文台(KPNO)、塞罗托洛美洲天文台(CTIO)和国家太阳天文台(NSO)组成。NSO包括基特峰和萨克拉门托峰天文台(SPO)的太阳能设施。此外，还有中央行政、技术和计算机支持小组。NOAO的任务有三个方面：(1)提供最先进的光学和红外望远镜及相关仪器，并为开展天文学、太阳物理和相关领域的研究计划提供必要的支持；(2)由内部工作人员执行前沿研究计划；(3)开发新的和创新的天文仪器。在竞争的基础上，所有合格的科学家都可以使用国家海洋和大气局的设施。700多名科学家每年进行1200多次访问，以利用国家海洋和大气层组织的观测和数据分析设施。

This award is the initial award under the Cooperative Agreement AST 8947990 with the Associated Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) for the management, operation, and maintenance of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO). The research programs in FY 1990 will cover astronomical subjects from the sun and the solar system through stars, galaxies, and quasars to the origin and structure of the universe. The instrumentation programs will include work on adaptive optics systems, infrared arrays, and the design and development of multi- object spectrographs. Major initiative programs are the development of a world wide network to study solar oscillations and techniques for polishing and testing large light weight mirrors. The NOAO is comprised of the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), and the National Solar Observatory (NSO). NSO includes the solar facilities at Kitt Peak and the Sacramento Peak Observatory (SPO). In addition there are central administrative, technical and computing support groups. NOAO's mission is a three-fold one: (1) to provide state of the art optical and infrared telescopes and associated instrumentation and the support necessary for the conduct of research programs in astronomy, solar physics and related fields (2) to perform forefront research programs by in house staff and (3) to develop new and innovative astronomical instrumentations. The facilities of NOAO are available to all qualified scientists on a competitive basis. Over 700 scientists make more than 1200 visits annually to utilize the observing and data analysis facilities of the NOAO.