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The Decade of Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Decade of Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics

  • Publisher: National Academies Press
  • ISBN: 9780309043816
  • eISBN Pdf: 9780309596114
  • Place of publication:  United States
  • Year of digital publication: 1991
  • Month: January
  • Pages: 221
  • DDC: 520
  • Language: English

Astronomers and astrophysicists are making revolutionary advances in our understanding of planets, stars, galaxies, and even the structure of the universe itself. The Decade of Discovery presents a survey of this exciting field of science and offers a prioritized agenda for space- and ground-based research into the twenty-first century.

The book presents specific recommendations, programs, and expenditure levels to meet the needs of the astronomy and astrophysics communities.

Accessible to the interested lay reader, the book explores:

  • The technological investments needed for instruments that will be built in the next century.
  • The importance of the computer revolution to all aspects of astronomical research.
  • The potential usefulness of the moon as an observatory site.
  • Policy issues relevant to the funding of astronomy and the execution of astronomical projects.

The Decade of Discovery will prove valuable to science policymakers, research administrators, scientists, and students in the physical sciences, and interested lay readers.

  • The Decade of Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Copyright
  • Preface
  • Contents
  • Executive Summary
    • THE DECADE OF DISCOVERY
    • RESTORING THE INFRASTRUCTURE
    • ACHIEVING A BALANCED SPACE PROGRAM
    • THE PRIORITIZED INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM
      • Large Programs
      • Small and Moderate Programs
        • Space-based Programs
        • Ground-based Programs
    • THEORY AND COMPUTERS
    • LUNAR ASTRONOMY
    • ASTRONOMY AND SOCIETY
  • 1 Recommendations
    • INTRODUCTION
      • Our Place in the Universe
      • Discoveries of the 1980s
      • The 1990s: The Decade of Discovery
    • PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THIS STUDY
      • Charge to the Committee
      • Contents of This Report
    • RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING GROUND-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE
    • ACHIEVING A BALANCED SPACE PROGRAM
      • Overall Strategy
      • Significance of Large Space Observatories
    • RECOMMENDED NEW EQUIPMENT INITIATIVES
      • Ground and Space Initiatives
      • The Combined Equipment List
      • Small Projects and Technological Initiatives
      • Explanation of New Equipment Initiatives
        • Large Programs
          • Ground-based Astronomy
            • Infrared-Optimized 8-m Telescope.
            • Millimeter Array.
            • Southern 8-m Telescope.
          • Space-based Astronomy
            • SIRTF.
        • Moderate Programs
          • Ground-based Projects
            • Adaptive Optics and Interferometry.
            • 4-m Telescopes.
            • Fly's Eye.
            • Large Earth-based Solar Telescope.
            • VLA Extension.
          • Space-based Projects
            • Dedicated Spacecraft for FUSE.
            • SOFIA.
            • Explorers.
            • Astrometric Interferometry Mission.
            • International Collaborations.
        • Small Programs
          • Ground-based Projects
            • Two-Micron Survey.
            • Infrared Instrumentation.
            • Cosmic Background Imager.
            • Laboratory Astrophysics.
            • Other Programs.
          • Space-based Projects
            • Small Explorers.
            • Other Projects.
        • Technology Development
          • Ground-based Technology
          • Space-based Technology
  • 2 Science Opportunities
    • INTRODUCTION
    • OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND THE SEARCH FOR OTHER PLANETS
      • The Formation and Evolution of Our Solar System
      • The Search for Other Planets
      • Comets and the Origins of Life
      • Weather and Volcanoes
    • THE LIFE HISTORY OF STARS
      • The Sun
      • The Formation of Stars
      • The Life and Death of Stars
    • THE LIFE HISTORY OF GALAXIES
      • The Milky Way as a Galaxy
      • The Evolution of Galaxies
      • The Power Source of Quasars and Active Galaxies
      • The Birth of Galaxies
    • THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE
      • The Big Bang Model
      • The Large-Scale Structure of the Universe
      • Dark Matter
      • The Origin of the Universe
      • The End of the Universe
  • 3 Existing Programs
    • INTRODUCTION
    • GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY
      • Optical and Infrared Astronomy
        • Large Mirrors
        • Adaptive Optics and Interferometry
      • Radio Astronomy
        • Centimeter Wavelength Astronomy
        • Millimeter and Submillimeter Wavelength Astronomy
      • Planetary Astronomy
      • Solar Astronomy
      • The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
    • SPACE ASTRONOMY
      • The Great Observatories
        • Hubble Space Telescope
        • Gamma Ray Observatory
        • Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility
      • The Explorer Program
      • The Suborbital Program
      • International Collaborations
      • Shuttle Payloads
      • Technology Development
    • THEORETICAL AND LABORATORY ASTROPHYSICS
    • PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICS
  • 4 New Initiatives
    • INTRODUCTION
    • THE DECADE OF THE INFRARED
    • HIGH SPATIAL RESOLUTION
      • The Millimeter Array
      • Adaptive Optics
      • Optical and Infrared Interferometers
      • Astrometric Interferometry Mission
      • Large Earth-based Solar Telescope
      • VLA Extension
    • CONSTRUCTION OF LARGE TELESCOPES
      • A Southern 8-m Telescope
      • Construction and Support of 4-m Telescopes
    • THE INFORMATION EXPLOSION
    • OTHER INITIATIVES
      • Dedicated Spacecraft for Fuse
      • Acceleration of the Explorer Program
      • Fly's Eye Telescope
  • 5 Astronomy and the Computer Revolution
    • INTRODUCTION
    • A HIERARCHY OF COMPUTING POWER
    • DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING
    • DATA REDUCTION AND ANALYSIS
    • ARCHIVING
    • COMPUTERS AND THEORETICAL ASTROPHYSICS
    • RECOMMENDATIONS
      • Archiving
      • Workstations and Hierarchical Computing
      • Networks
      • Community Code Development
  • 6 Astronomy from the Moon
    • ASTRONOMY AND THE SPACE EXPLORATION INITIATIVE
    • THE MOON AS AN OBSERVATORY SITE
      • Physical Characteristics
      • A Human Presence
    • SCIENCE FROM A LUNAR OBSERVATORY
      • Observations with Single Telescopes
      • Interferometry at Visible and Near-infrared Wavelengths
      • Interferometry at Submillimeter Wavelengths
      • Radio Observations
      • High-Energy Astrophysics
    • AN EVOLUTIONARY PROGRAM OF TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT
    • SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES
    • THE IMPACT OF THE LUNAR PROGRAM
    • WHERE SHOULD THE PROGRAM BE IN 10 YEARS?
    • CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
  • 7 Policy Opportunities
    • INTRODUCTION
    • THE PREVIOUS DECADE
    • EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE
    • REVIVING GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY
    • BALANCED SPACE ASTROPHYSICS PROGRAM
    • INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
  • 8 Astronomy as a National Asset
    • OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
    • ASTRONOMY AND AMERICA'S SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP
      • Public Scientific Literacy
      • Training of Professional Scientists
    • SYNERGISM WITH OTHER SCIENCES
      • High-Energy and Particle Physics
      • Geophysics
    • ASTRONOMY AND THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT
      • An Astronomical Context for the Earth's Environment
      • Models of the Earth's Environment
      • Astronomy, Weather, and Ozone Depletion
    • USES OF ASTRONOMICAL TECHNIQUES OUTSIDE ASTRONOMY
      • Medicine
      • Industry
      • Defense Technology
      • Why They Call It Universal Time
      • Energy
    • ASTRONOMY AS AN INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISE
  • 9 References
  • Appendices
    • Appendix A Glossary
      • Astronomical Terms
      • Abbreviations and Acronyms
    • Appendix B Status of the Profession
      • The Demographics of Astronomy
        • The Growth of Astronomy
        • Astronomy as a Profession
      • The Funding of Astronomical Research
        • Support from the National Science Foundation
        • Support from NASA
        • Access to Ground-Based Telescopes
        • Optical and Infrared Astronomy
        • Radio Astronomy
    • Appendix C Contributing Scientists
      • Benefits to the Nation from Astronomy and Astrophysics
      • Computing and Data Processing
      • High Energy from Space
      • Infrared Astronomy
      • Interferometry
      • Optical/IR from Ground
      • Particle Astrophysics
      • Planetary Astronomy
      • Policy Opportunities
      • Radio Astronomy
      • Science Opportunities
      • Solar Astronomy
      • Status of the Profession
      • Theory and Laboratory Astrophysics
      • UV-Optical from Space
      • Working Group on Astronomy from the Moon
    • Appendix D Members, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources
  • Index

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