The Decade of Infrared Astronomy

APR 01, 1991

The 1990s should see an 8‐m infrared telescope built atop Mauna Kea, a 2.5‐m telescope in a 747 jumbo jet that will fly above 99% of the water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere and a 1‐m cryogenic telescope inserted into a 100 000‐km orbit.

DOI: 10.1063/1.881285

Frederick C. Gillett

James R. Houck

The enormous technological and scientific advances of the 1980s give us an unparalleled opportunity to address fundamental issues in astrophysics through observations at infrared wavelengths. The recommendations of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee reflect these opportunities for research in the 1–1000‐micron wavelength range. The highest priority recommendations for large new projects in this part of the spectrum are for a Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF, and an 8‐meter ground‐based Infrared Optimized Telescope, or IRO. A Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, is a highly recommended medium‐sized initiative, and there are strong recommendations for several other infrared initiatives.

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References

1. For a more detailed overview of SIRTF, see M. W. Werner, P. G. Eisenhardt, Astrophys. Lett., and Comm. 27, 89 (1988),
and the articles on SIRTF that follow, or contact M. W. Werner, MS 171‐267, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109.
2. For more information on 8‐m telescope designs and advanced technology telescopes, see SPIE Proc. 1236 (1990),
or contact P. Osmer, NOAO, P. O. Box 26732, Tucson, AZ 85726.
3. For a more detailed overview of SOFIA, see E. F. Erickson, J. A. Davidson, G. Thorley, L. J. Caroff, technical memo 103840, NASA, Washington, DC (1991),
or contact E. F. Erickson, MS 245‐6, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035.

More about the authors

Frederick C. Gillett, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Tucson, Arizona.

James R. Houck, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.