Why are telescopes built?

[Frank]

question Ironyak...If we took the $1.4 off the table, no money involved at all, what would the conversation be? Science? sacred? cosmos???

I suggest many would not give 2 hoots...

[kalakoa]

I suggest many would not give 2 hoots...

I've been saying that for years: exceed the threshhold, land is suddenly sacred.

Walmart, Home Depot, Target, Safeway: mere tens of millons, and generally useful to most people, therefore that land isn't sacred.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Science? sacred? cosmos???

Should we charge USGS for working on Pele’s sacred turf?
NOAA for stealing the spirit of the islands when they take photos with their weather satellites? Shouldn’t Hawaii get a cut of that, especially if they haven’t signed a release?

[Frank]

quote:

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Originally posted by HereOnThePrimalEdge

Science? sacred? cosmos???

Should we charge USGS for working on Pele’s sacred turf?
NOAA for stealing the spirit of the islands when they take photos with their weather satellites? Shouldn’t Hawaii get a cut of that, especially if they haven’t signed a release?

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with respect...If we took the $1.4 off the table, no money involved at all, what would the conversation be? Is the question

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

If we took the $1.4 off the table, no money involved

There is no money on the table.
$1.4 billion is not state or county money, it can’t be used for anything else except a telescope. Don’t you think it took every TMT partner involved to come up with the money for the project? They can’t print cash like the federal government, so what should they do, hold a bake sale for an unspecified ransom payment which may or may not allow them to complete the project? What if they pay off this group of protestors as you seem to suggest, and another unaffiliated group sets up new lawn chairs in their place?

Please explain where you think the money comes from, where it goes, and how additional funds can magically appear?

[TomK]

Frank - I am really having a hard time understanding your points. Telescopes in the northern hemisphere can see objects in the northern sky, telescopes in the southern hemisphere can see objects in the southern sky. There is some overlap, but there are unique objects in both hemispheres but half will not be observable if there is no large telescope in the northern hemisphere. Not having the three largest telescopes in one hemisphere is simply common sense.

As for the $1.4 billion construction costs, you've lost me, I do not understand what your point is. That is the cost of construction which is being paid by several partners. If you take that money off the table it won't be built anywhere - that's what will change. You say you support science but your posts don't seem to show that.

[TomK]

PS. If anyone is wondering why telescopes are built, you might want to watch PBS Hawaii tonight at 10 pm.

"BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
The Telescope"

https://www.pbshawaii.org/breakthrough-t...telescope/

And also on PBS Hawaii tonight:

8 pm - NOVA Pluto and beyond

https://www.pbshawaii.org/nova-pluto-and-beyond/

9 pm - NOVA The planets: ice worlds

https://www.pbshawaii.org/nova-the-planets-ice-worlds/

[TomK]

"BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
The Telescope"

https://www.pbshawaii.org/breakthrough-t...telescope/

On now, and if it's important to anyone, narrated by Patrick Stewart.

[Frank]

Hopte, TomK,..No wonder your not following...I'm bot speaking to the investment, I'm speaking to the income to the State. Entirely different conversation from my point of view.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I'm speaking to the income to the State.

How much should nonprofits pay? Here’s a good accounting of the profits and royalties generated by Hawaiian observatories. Frank, if you are suggesting they pay more, please explain what you see as their income, and ability to pay more from their activities:
http://darkerview.com/wordpress/?p=26596