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

小行星9525903 由于不同的天体物理过程显示出不同波长的特征辐射，天文学家们寻求许多不同的宇宙波长窗口。 在典型的光学天文台进行红外观测的困难导致美国宇航局在20世纪70年代中期在夏威夷的莫纳克亚山山顶建造了一个3米的专用望远镜。 然而，美国宇航局决定，总观测时间的一半将满足其需要，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游客提供资金支持。 当美国宇航局的观察员们检查与美国宇航局太空有关的物体时， 访问者可以自由地观察任何具有足够科学兴趣的物体，无论是在我们的银河系内还是在银河系外。 这笔不多的钱用于住宿、当地交通、冷冻剂（冷却接收器）和在科学期刊上发表文章。 该方案的成功和多样性充分证明了其继续提供资金的合理性。

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.