Infrastructure Improvements at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助的。该奖项支持国家光学天文台(NOAO)的基础设施升级，以确保国家光学天文台现有资产的生存能力，以支持地面天文学社区的研究。这些资金被指定用于支持前沿的天文光学和红外研究，更换NOAO望远镜和数据处理设施的故障和过时的系统，并确保NOAO观测站为来访的科学家和工作人员继续安全作业。总金额为560万美元，用于解决与现场安全、设施维护、运营效率、节能和现代化相关的基础设施问题。这些活动将提高政府所有设施的寿命，降低设施运营成本，加强节能，改善来访科学家、工作人员和来访者的安全，提高望远镜获取数据的质量和数量。NOAO设施被美国天文学团体用来解决前沿天文研究中的突出问题。通过这些升级，国家海洋和大气局支持这项研究的能力将大大增强。此外，国家海洋和大气局还参与了扩大研究参与度的计划，例如其正在进行的学生计划，这将受益于改进的观测和数据处理能力，使学生更容易从事最前沿的天文观测工作

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This award supports infrastructure upgrades at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) that will ensure the viability of current NOAO assets for supporting research by the ground-based astronomical community. The funds are designated to support forefront astronomical optical and infrared research by replacing failing and outdated systems at NOAO telescopes and data handling facilities and to ensure the continued safety of operations at NOAO observatory sites for visiting scientists and staff. A total of $5.6M is awarded to address infrastructure problems associated with on-site safety, facility maintenance, operational efficiency, energy conservation, and modernization. These activities will improve the longevity of government-owned facilities, reduce the cost of facility operations, enhance energy conservation, improve the safety of visiting scientists, staff and visitors, and improve the quality and quantity of data acquired with the telescopes. NOAO facilities are used by the US astronomical community to address outstanding problems in forefront astronomical research. Through these upgrades, NOAO's ability to support this research will be substantially enhanced. In addition NOAO participation in programs to broaden participation in research, such as its ongoing student programs, will benefit from improved observing and data handling capabilities, making it easier for students to work with forefront astronomical observations