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All,
For those interested in astronomy and especially what's going on at the summit of Mauna Kea, you may be interested in the following announcement by the STFC in the UK:
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/News+and+Events/39092.aspx
One or two of you might remember that a few weeks ago I posted in a thread here that there may be some bad news in the near future. I didn't expect this though.
I'm currently in the UK and the reaction here is just starting to ramp up.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/
Oh no, Tom!
I read the link, but I need some help figuring out what the problem is. Is it that the UK astronomers have now got easier or better access elsewhere, or they can't negotiate with UHH, or don't want to, or what?
I am extremely sorry to hear this.
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quote:
Originally posted by KathyH
Oh no, Tom!
I read the link, but I need some help figuring out what the problem is. Is it that the UK astronomers have now got easier or better access elsewhere, or they can't negotiate with UHH, or don't want to, or what?
I am extremely sorry to hear this.
Tom -- I am sorry to hear this as well.
Kathy -- My understanding is that this is due to astronomy research funding cuts in the UK. The UK astronomy became a part of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) about 10 years ago. ESO runs a number of great observatories in Chile to which now the UK has obtained access. The UK, which is part of the Gemini Observatory on Mauna Kea, will be pulling out of that as well.
PS: With regards to potential development in the future, Chile has a lot more available space to build newer and bigger telescopes.
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I just got back from the UK, and they were talking a lot about austerity in their government programs, including research of all kinds. It is sad to hear that one of our astronomy resources might be lost. Hopefully, the UK government will relent or some private philanthropist will step forward to keep things going.
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One of the consequences of corporate bailouts and "austerity" for Hawaii.
Philanthropists?
Ask Lloyd Blankfein at Goldman Sachs.
He knows Barack Obama who knows David Cameron (British Prime Minister)
Thanks for that explanation, rprr. So the changes are more UK driven than a result of Hawai'i policies or politics?
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The decision has nothing to do with UH or Hawaii policies or politics, as rprr says it's to do with the funding situation in the UK. The UK wants to be part of the ELT (a very large telescope proposed for Chile - basically a European equivalent of the TMT proposed for Mauna Kea) but that is ten years away. What we don't understand however, is the proposed closure date for UKIRT, a full year earlier than the JCMT. UKIRT essentially comes for free as long as the JCMT is funded, so it makes no sense to close it early.
I was at the UKIRT Board meeting yesterday in Edinburgh and am also attending a UKIRT-based science conference. As you can imagine there are a lot of very upset people here (and of course both JCMT and UKIRT staff members on the island are hardly in a great mood at the moment). The Board responded immediately to the announcement which can be found here:
http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/UKIRT/news/St..._Board.pdf
More later as things become clearer.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/
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Sorry to hear this Tom. I hold the telescopes and the work done on the summit by the scientists and engineers very close to my heart. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help or change opinion etc.
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Thank you, beejee. Unfortunately I suspect it's a done deal and because the funding agency is UK-based then local opinion is unlikely to influence the decision however much we'd all like it to be otherwise. The decision clearly affects local staff and families but that is not how the STFC operates I'm afraid.
The UK has a very proud history in astronomy. Currently, it is only second to the US in terms of scientific productivity and has many firsts in astrophysics. Given its relatively small population compared to other countries it's quite an achievement. Now it's in a race to be first again - the first country to decommission a Mauna Kea observatory and perhaps the first country to actually demolish an astronomical observatory anywhere (and another in 2014). This will happen if no one can be found to take over operations. The STFC must be so proud.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/
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Shortsighted fools. There are so many other things that could and should be cut first.
