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NSF PA/M 01-22 - May 25, 2001
NSF's Newest Observatories Featured at American Astronomical
Society Meeting
Learn about astronomy developments supported by
the National Science Foundation (NSF) at the American
Astronomical Society meeting in Pasadena, California,
June 3-7, 2001. The science content of these
sessions is embargoed until the time of presentation.
MT. WILSON: PEERING THROUGH OLD AND NEW OBSERVATORIES
Media tour
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Tues., June 5, 5:00-10:30 p.m.
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Visit one of the newest NSF-funded telescope arrays,
an optical/infrared interferometer. Then observe the
heavens through the historic 100-inch telescope built
by the Carnegie Institution in 1917 and used by Edwin
Hubble to discover that the universe is expanding.
Small charge for box supper. RSVP by June 1.
EARLY RESULTS FROM THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY
News conference
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Tues., June 5, 9:15 a.m.
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Special session
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Thurs., June 7, 10:00-11:30 a.m., C101-104
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The Sloan scientific team--which includes 11 institutions--reveals
breaking results on objects and structures ranging
from the vicinity of Earth to the most distant known
objects. The survey will map in detail one-quarter
of the entire sky.
MEET THE DIRECTOR: NEW DIRECTIONS FOR NOAO
Media roundtable
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Wed., June 6, 4:00 p.m.
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New director Jeremy Mould reviews the opportunities
he foresees for the NSF National Optical Astronomy
Observatory (NOAO), including a detailed study of
the proposed Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope, a more
effective public-private national system for ground-based
optical/infrared astronomy, and a leading role for
NOAO in the proposed Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
GEMINI NORTH SEES LIGHT OF STARS AND GALAXY
Special session
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Mon., June 4, 10:00-11:30 a.m., C106
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Display
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Mon., June 4, Exhibit Hall
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Astronomers present the first scientific results from
the 8-meter Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
Gemini North recently began routine science operations
and has made significant observations of circumstellar
disks--areas suspected of containing nascent planets--and
uncovered surprising evidence for very recent star-forming
events near the center of the Milky Way, demonstrating
Gemini's superb mid-infrared performance.
INTEGRATING RESEARCH INTO ASTRONOMY EDUCATION
Special session
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Mon., June 4, 10:00-11:30 a.m., C212-214
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Research experiences for teachers and students help
enhance their understanding of how science works and
encourage the development of the nation's future scientific
work force. Education officials from NSF's NOAO and
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) demonstrate
how the national observatories help meet these needs
by providing hands-on research experiences at NSF's
Kitt Peak, Green Bank and other observatories.
2MASS PINPOINTS 300 MILLION OBJECTS--OR THEREABOUTS
Topical session
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Tues., June 5, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 2:00-5:30
p.m., C101-104
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Display
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Tues., June 5, Exhibit Hall
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From asteroids in our solar system to galaxies in the
nearby universe, the entire sky has been surveyed
with two 1.3-meter telescopes: one at Mt. Hopkins,
Arizona, the other at NSF's Cerro Tololo Interamerican
Observatory, Chile. Michael Skrutskie of the University
of Massachusetts and colleagues reveal "The Big Picture"
- the database resulting from the near-infrared Two
Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS).
CHARA MOVES WEST WITH CALIFORNIA ARRAY
Topical session
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Wed., June 6, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 2:30-6:00
p.m., C106
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Display
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Wed., June 6, Exhibit Hall
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A team of scientists led by Harold McAlister of Georgia
State's Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy
(CHARA) recently completed construction of an optical/infrared
interferometer project on Mt. Wilson. The six one-meter
telescopes, configured in a Y-shaped array, are designed
to study stars and their characteristics.
REJUVENATED ARECIBO PROBES SOLAR SYSTEM AND BEYOND
Special session
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Thurs., June 7, 2:00-3:30 p.m., C105
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Display
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Thurs., June 7, Exhibit Hall
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Nestled in the hills of Puerto Rico, the 305-meter
telescope at NSF's Arecibo Observatory has undergone
a major upgrade. It provides greater sensitivity and
frequency coverage, state-of-the art spectrometers
and updated observing methods. Scientists review the
latest capabilities and present results drawn from
radar images of asteroids, planets and their satellites,
and from galactic and extragalactic radio observations.
For more information and to RSVP (by June 1) for the
Mt. Wilson media tour, contact:
Amber Jones (703) 292-8070/aljones@nsf.gov
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