Why are telescopes built?

[MattKarma]

quote:

---

Originally posted by kalakoa

We should be focusing on activities that have real benefits

Like getting off this planet.

The whole thing could be paying for itself in decades

It's not clear that we have enough decades.

---

Like making the earth paradise, universal wealth ... just have to program the space ai so it doesn't go on strike. We'll hire the 'protectors' for that ;-)

***Still can't figure out how to spell 'car' correctly***

[TomK]

8F,

"So why ARE they built?"

To explore and understand our universe as well as our place within it.

"It seems to me a telescope is not really a business that’s supposed to generate a profit, or maybe is it?"

All major observatories are non-profit organizations. By law, they do not make profits nor were they built to do so.


"Are they mostly taxpayer funded projects used solely for the pure joy of discovery?"

Most observatories are funded by various government agencies and universities around the world so yes, they are funded by taxpayers. Some are privately funded, or at least a major part of their funding is private. The Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea is an example of the latter.

I'm not sure "joy of discovery" is the right phrase. They are built because of humankind's fundamental desire to explore and understand their surroundings. As an astronomer, I can say there is a joy in discovering something no-one else has seen before, but the main part of the job is to understand how the universe works and to test our theories of physics and chemistry. Even astrobiology is now becoming in important topic.

"Are some of them privately funded? Is TMT privately funded? Who’s funding that one and why? What do they get out of it?"

As I mentioned above, the Keck Observatory receives much of its money from a private foundation. The TMT is not privately funded, it's construction and operational costs are paid for by several governments agencies around the world. That funding allows the scientists of those countries to get observing time on the TMT when it's finally built.

"Are they used to research things that may benefit man either now or in the future? I think most people would answer yes to that?"

Both. Examples of things that benefit us now are obviously looking for Earth-threatening asteroids, predicting the effects of solar storms on our planet, tracking orbital debris and keeping commercial satellites safe and attracting people into STEM education (astronomy is often quoted by engineers and scientists as the thing that got them interested in science.

Long term benefits are all the technology advancements that naturally result from the research that gets done which also includes medicine for example. Ever had a CAT scan? You can thank astronomy for that. Do you use GPS? Again, a result of astronomy. There are numerous examples. Then, of course, there is the eventual need for humans to escape this planet.

"How does someone go about justifying the funding for these huge projects?"

See above. But I will point out that the amount of money spent on astronomy is minute when you think of the big picture and what your tax money is used for. For example, the cost of the TMT is still less than the average cost of one B2 bomber.

[reni]

"I remember reading about a telescope up there that was long ago put out of service, but they couldn't remove it due to an accumulation of hydraulic fluid that had to be dealt with first."
-----------------------------------
Yes, glassnumbers, this is the reason claimed.
And the leaking hydraulic fluid , if it exists, would be found under the foundation. So we now wait on an EIS not allowing the dismantling down to the foundation? ...for how long?

Keep in mind, the powers that control remedying this solution are very similar to what we are currently up against with keeping our harbors open and affordable to those that love the ocean .

" Even if the Petitions are to be heard success is dim as BLNR controls all elements of the case hearing process. Study TMT’s contested case history for a reference."

The State is in complete control of all aspects. It can move forward, it can stall.

I, fully support the exploration of space, the existing work on Mauna Kea . I have friends who are astronomers, awesome people who I admire and respect and I fully support the U. of H.
Can I not at the same time understand the Hawaiian culture? What is important to them? Not want to see them denied access to their Mauna?Be an environmentalist? And be sick and tired of this State's natural resources being sold to big business? Where's the balance?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwRnQQn6m2E

[kalakoa]

Not want to see them denied access to their Mauna?

I didn't realize TMT would take up the entire mountain.

sick and tired of this State's natural resources being sold to big business?

Leased. To a non-profit research facility.

Not saying the issues aren't valid, but the telescope focus is misguided.

[dan d]

Wow hotp thanks


Why are telescopes built?

Space.
The final frontier...quote fm hotpe
--------------------


Wow this is a great place to ad some humor. Was watching star trek on net flix and seeing the origional star trek
Season 3 eppisode 20.

In regards to the mauna signil, the delta or pyramid symbol.

The protesters m8ght want to be carefull.( might be a star trek trade mark?)
In the time mark
2:33 min
The first time time da crazy hippe spaceship stealers are caught and call Kirk, herbert?
Ie: tmt.
The hippies( protecters) hold fast and stop Kirk (tmt)from deploying, he yeilds(kim).

4:46 the protesters(hippies) sign the delta sign and chant "sno cone sno cone snow cone,snow cone". Should it not have been, ice shave, ice shave,?

6:04
Spok steps in. Make the sign of the doughnut(smashed) sorry delta
The hippies ( protesters) say spok are u da one, yess. Da sign.
Spok becomes a non herbert. Like a clensing, hmm ,spok, kim, igeman.
Reborn,

Opps astronomy like we. New it ,gone like a bad episode.
The reruns later this year of the tmt. Show should be interesting lol
Aloha


HPP

[rainyjim]

Hey Dan, is English not your first language? I can barely understand anything you post on punaweb. I don’t want this to be insulting - I just thought you should know in the event you might be able to format or structure your posts differently so others can ‘get more out of them’.
Alohas

[TomK]

"Not want to see them denied access to their Mauna?"

The TMT will not deny access to the mountain to anyone. This is an argument that keeps being thrown around and is completely untrue. The observatories have actually given people more access to the mountain.

[MarkP]

"Can I not at the same time understand the Hawaiian culture? What is important to them? Not want to see them denied access to their Mauna?Be an environmentalist? And be sick and tired of this State's natural resources being sold to big business?"

None of these are issues at stake WRT the TMT.

[reni]

"The observatories have actually given people more access to the mountain."
agreed Tom. And it would not be the observatories blocking access to the summit if the Emergency Proclamation were to be reestablished. Maybe others can see a different path to construction starting,
(I for one do not put much faith in our government leaders successfully negotiating with the protestors. )

This morning there was an article in civil beat. Topic, the ELT currently under construction in Chile.

"A consortium of 16 European nations has already begun construction in Chile on the similar but considerably larger (39.3 meters) Extremely Large Telescope."

https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/08/will-t...astronomy/

[kalakoa]

the ELT currently under construction in Chile

Chile is south of the equator, permanently unable to see things that are visible here.