Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980's, Volume 1

Report of the Astronomy Survey Committee

Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309032490
eISBN Pdf: 9780309533805
Place of publication: United States
Year of digital publication: 1982
Month: January
Pages: 210
DDC: 520
Language: English

Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980's
Copyright
Preface
Contents
Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980's
1—Introduction
- OUR COSMIC HERITAGE
- EXPLORATION AND UNDERSTANDING
- A DECADE OF OPPORTUNITY
2—Recommended Priorities for Astronomy and Astrophysics in the 1980's
- SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM
  - Prerequisites for New Research Initiatives
  - New Programs
    - A.
    - B.
    - C.
  - Programs for Study and Development
- ESTIMATED COST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
- BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
  - The Greenstein Report
  - Perspective on the Present Survey
  - Assignment of Priorities to Research Needs
- SUPPLEMENTARY TABULATION OF PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS
3—Frontiers of Astrophysics
- LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURE IN THE UNIVERSE
  - Probes of Large-Scale Structure
  - Expansion Time Scale
  - The Early Universe
  - Groups, Clusters, and Superclusters
  - Hidden Mass and the Fate of the Universe
- EVOLUTION OF GALAXIES
  - The Study of Galaxies
  - Formation of Galaxies
  - Evolution of Galaxies
  - Interaction of Galaxies with Their Environment
- VIOLENT EVENTS
  - Cosmic Rays, Supernovae, and Pulsars
  - Binary Star Systems
  - Active Galaxies and Quasars
  - The Impact of Recommended Programs and Facilities on the Study of Violent Events
- FORMATION OF STARS AND PLANETS
  - The Interstellar Medium
  - Molecular Clouds and Star Formation
  - The Solar System
  - Roles of Theory and Observation
- SOLAR AND STELLAR ACTIVITY
  - Activity on the Sun
  - Stellar Activity
  - The Role of Magnetic Fields
  - Stellar Mass Loss
- PLANETS, LIFE, AND INTELLIGENCE
  - Life in the Solar System
  - Conditions for Life in the Universe
  - Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
- ASTRONOMY AND THE FORCES OF NATURE
  - Energy Sources in the Universe
  - Two Puzzles: Solar Neutrinos and Hidden Mass
  - Before the First Three Minutes
  - The Limits of Gravitation
4—Approved, Continuing, and Previously Recommended Programs
- A. SPACE TELESCOPE AND THE ASSOCIATED SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE
- B. SECOND-GENERATION INSTRUMENTATION FOR SPACE TELESCOPE
- C. THE GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY
- D. LEVEL-OF-EFFORT OBSERVATIONAL PROGRAMS WITHIN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
  - The Explorer Program
  - Balloons, Aircraft, and Sounding Rockets
  - The Spacelab Program
- E. TWO MAJOR ASTROPHYSICS FACILITIES FOR SPACELAB
  - The Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)
  - The Solar Optical Telescope (SOT)
- F. FACILITIES FOR THE DETECTION OF SOLAR NEUTRINOS
- G. FEDERAL GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF BASIC ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH AT U.S. UNIVERSITIES
- H. PROGRAMS AT THE NATIONAL ASTRONOMY CENTERS
- I. THE 25-METER MILLIMETER-WAVE RADIO TELESCOPE
5—Prerequisites for New Research Initiatives
- A. INSTRUMENTATION AND DETECTORS
- B. THEORY AND DATA ANALYSIS
- C. COMPUTATIONAL FACILITIES
- D. LABORATORY ASTROPHYSICS
- E. TECHNICAL SUPPORT AT GROUND-BASED OBSERVATORIES
6—New Programs
- A. MAJOR NEW PROGRAMS
  - 1. Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility
  - 2. A Very-Long-Baseline (VLB) Array of Radio Telescopes
  - 3. A New Technology Telescope (NTT) of the 15-Meter Class
  - 4. A Large Deployable Reflector in Space
- B. MODERATE NEW PROGRAMS
  - 1. Explorer Program Augmentation
  - 2. Far-Ultraviolet Spectrograph in Space
  - 3. A Space VLB Interferometry Antenna
  - 4. Construction of Optical/Infrared Telescopes in the 2-5-Meter Class
  - 5. Advanced Solar Observatory in Space
  - 6. Cosmic-Ray Experiments
  - 7. Astronomical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
- C. SMALL NEW PROGRAMS
  - A 10-Meter Submillimeter-Wave Antenna
  - A Spatial Interferometer for the Mid-Infrared Region
  - A Program of High-Precision Optical Astrometry
  - A Temporary Program to Maintain Scientific Expertise at U.S. Universities
7—Programs for Study and Development
- A. FUTURE X-RAY OBSERVATORIES IN SPACE
- B. INSTRUMENTS FOR THE DETECTION OF GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
- C. LONG-DURATION SPACEFLIGHTS OF INFRARED TELESCOPES COOLED TO CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES
- D. VERY LARGE TELESCOPE IN SPACE FOR ULTRAVIOLET, OPTICAL, AND NEAR-INFRARED OBSERVATIONS
- E. PROGRAM OF ADVANCED SPATIAL INTERFEROMETRY IN THE RADIO, INFRARED, AND OPTICAL SPECTRAL REGIONS
- F. ADVANCED GAMMA-RAY EXPERIMENTS
- G. ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES ON THE MOON
Appendixes
- Appendix A: Statement Concerning a Space Platform
- Appendix B: Organization, Education, and Personnel
  - Personnel
  - Education
  - Organization
- Appendix C: Panels and Working Groups
  - Panel on High Energy Astrophysics
  - Panel on Ultraviolet, Optical, and Infrared Astronomy
  - Panel on Radio Astronomy
  - Panel on Theoretical and Laboratory Astrophysics
  - Panel on Data Processing and Computational Facilities
  - Panel on Organization, Education, and Personnel
  - Working Group on Solar Physics
  - Working Group on Planetary Science
  - Working Group on Galactic Astronomy
  - Working Group on Extragalactic Astronomy
  - Working Group on Related Areas of Science
  - Working Group on Astrometry
  - Working Group on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
- Appendix D: Abbreviations Used in Text
Index