AUSTRALIA
The Next Generation of Australian Telescopes
1979
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THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUSTRALIAN TELESCOPES
A report
to the
Prime
Minister
by the
Australian
Science
and Technology
Council
(ASTEC)
rlarch
Australian
Government
Canberra
1979
Publishing
1979
THE AUSTltALlAN SCIENCE
AND TECHNOiOGY COUNCII
P.O. Box E439
Queen Kctoria Terrace
Carberm, A.C.T. 2600
Service
@Commonwealth
ISBN
0
642
of
04347
Australia
1979
7
Printed by C. .I. THOMPSON,Commonwealth
Government Printer, Canberra
astec
AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
P.O. Box 52
CANBERRA, A.C.T. 2600
My dear
Prime
27 larch
1979
Minister,
On 22 February
1978 ASTEC wrote to you on the
results
of the interdepartmental
review of Australian
astronomical
observatories.
In that letter
we undertook
to examine in detail
two proposals
for major new
Australian
telescopes.
These are the Australian
Synthesis
and a,3-metre
optical
telescope
for use by
Telescope,
ASTEC's
the Australian
National
University
and others.
report
on these proposals,
and on associated
matters,
is
enclosed
for your consideration.
Yours
sincerely,
(G.M. Badger )
Chairman
For and on behalf
of:
Professor
B.D.O. Anderson
Sir Samuel Burston,
Dr L.W. Davies
Mr A.W. Hamer
Professor
B. E. Hobbs
Mr B.T. Loton
The Right Honourable
Prime Minister,
Parliament
House,
CANBERRA A.C.T.
(R.N. Robertson)
Deputy Chairman
Malcolm
2600
Professor
Sir Gustav
Sir Arvi Parbo
Mr L. Peres
Mr K.C. Stone
Professor
R. Street
Mr J.G. Wilson
Fraser,
CH,MP,
Nossal
MEMBERS OF ASTEC
Professor
G.M. Badger,
Research Professor
of Adelaide
AO, FTS, FAA (Chairman)
of Organic Chemistry,,
Professor
Sir Rutherford
(Deputy Chairman)
Formerly
director,
Australian
National
Robertson,
Sir
CMG, FAA, FRS
Research School
University
Professor
B.D.O. Anderson,
Professor
of Electrical
of Newcastle
of Biological
FAA
Engineering,
Samuel Burston,'OBE
President,
Australian
Woolgrowers'
ICI
Australia
Professor
B.E. Hobbs
Professor
of Geology,
Monash University
& Graziers'
Sir
Council
(Australasis)
Ltd
The University
of Earth
The Broken
Hill
Sciences,
Proprietary
Louis Matheson KBE, CMG, FTS, (until
28 February
Formerly
Vice-Chancellor,
Monash University
Professor
Sir Gustav Nossal,
CBE, FAA
The Walter and Eliza Hall
Director,
Medical
Research
Sir
ity
Limited
Department
Mr B.T. Loton
Chief General Manager,
Company Limited
Sciences,
The Univers
Dr L.W. Davies,
AO, FTS, FAA
Chief Scientist,
Amalgamated Wireless
and Professor
of Electrical
Engineering,
of New South Wales
Mr A.W. Hamer, FTS
Deputy Chairman,
The University
Arvi Parbo, FTS
Chairman and Managing
Limited
Mr L. Peres
Reader
in Political
Director,
Science,
Institute
Western
The University
1979)
of
Mining
Corporation
of Melbourne
Mr K.C. Stone
Secretary,
Victorian
Professor
R. Street,
Vice-Chancellor,
Mr J.G. Wilson,
Chairman,
Trades
FAA
The University
CBE
Australian
Hall
Council
of Western
Paper Manufacturers
Australia
Limited
CONTENTS
1.
SUPQJARYAND RECOMMENDATIONS
2.
INTRODUCTION
1
Historical
The Australian
The
X-ray
3-metre
Synthesis
Optical
Telescope
CAST)
Telescope
Astronomy
3.
ASTRONOi'lY IN AUSTRALIA
5
4.
THE AUSTRALIAN SYNTHESIS TELESCOPE CAST)
6
5.
THE 3-?.TETRE OPTICAL TELESCOPE
12
6.
ASTRONOI:lY AT OTHER WAVELENGTHS
13
APPENDIX
15
ASTEC Working
Party
Activities
1.
SUMMARYAND RECOMMENDATIONS
The interest
of leading
Australian
astronomers
is
1.1
turning
increasingly
to the use of a synthesis
telescope
having higher
resolving
power than the single-dish
type of
In 1975 a proposal
was made to add a
radio telescope.
number of fixed
and moveable antennae to the radio telescope
at the Australian
National
Radio Astronomy Observatory
at
NSW, so that it could also be used as a synthesis
Parkes,
telescope.
The Australian
National
University
has a proposal
1.2
for the construction
of a 3-metre optical
telescope
at
Siding
Spring Mountain
Observatory.
This telescope
would be
used primarily
for the training
of postgraduate
students.
These two proposals
were considered
in 1977 by an
1.3
Inter-Departmental
Committee
(IDC), which had been asked to
review the observatory
facilities
in Australia,
and which
The IDC dealt particularly
reported
in September of that year.
with the need to co-ordinate
and rationalise
the development
of Australian
astronomy
and urged that decisions
on these
two proposals
be taken soon and that ASTEC should be consulted.
ASTEC considered
the report
of the IDC and, in a
1.4
comment to the Prime Minister
in February
1978, broadly
ASTEC undertook
to examine the
endorsed the IDC approach.
This has now been
telescope
proposals
at an early
date.
recommendations
are made.
done, and the following
Recommendation
1
That Australia's
research
effort
in astronomy
for the time being at about the present
level
(Paragraph
3.3)
Recommendation
2
That
the Australian
Synthesis
priority
among telescope
be authorised
at an estimated
quarter
1978 doZZarsl,
spread
first
Recommendation
be maintained
in reaZ terms.
Telescope
CAST) be given the
9roposaZs
and that the construction
cost of $12,5miZLion
(December
over 5 years.
(Paragraph
4.11)
3
That the Australian
Synthesis
PeZescoy?e be built
and operated
by CSIRO under contract
to a Board to be appointed
by the
that the telescope
Minister
for Science and the Bnvironment;
1
be regarded
as a national
facility
avaiZabZe
for use by aZZ
Australian
astronomers;
and that the selection
of research
programs be based on the merit,of
the proposals
and be the
responsibility
of a Time AZZocation
Committee.
(Paragraph
4..13)
Recommendation
4
That practical
and reasonable
charges be made to users of
the AST recover
part of the operating
costs of the instrument;
but that charges be not so Zarge as to inhibit
the use of
(Paragraph
4.15)
the telescope.
Recommendation
5
That the Australian
Vice-Chancellors'
Committee and the
Universities
CouneiZ be invited
to consider
whether
the
facilities
avaiZable
for training
young astronomers
are
and that the Australian
il!ationaZ
University
readequate,
examine its proposa2 for a a-metre optica
telescope
as a
training
instrument
in the light
of their
findings.
(Paragraph
5.4).
Recommendation
6
That the Astronomy Advisory
C'ommittee examine astronomy
at
other wavelengths
(X-ray,
gamma-ray,
infra-red,
ultraand determine
the best strategy
to adopt in relation
violet),
to nationa
projects
in this area.
(Paragrkph.6.3)
'2
2.
INTRODUCTION
Historical
2.1
In May 1976, the Government decided that observatory
facilities
wholly
or partly
financed
by the Commonwealth
Government should be reviewed
with a view to rationalisation
in use and savings
in expenditure.
An Inter-Departmental
Committee
(IDC) of officials
from the Departments
of Science
and Education,
the Treasury
and the Public
Service
Board was
asked to undertake
this review.
It was assisted
by an expert
sub-committee
of astronomers.
2.2
The Government also decided that ASTEC would be
invited
to comment on the IDC's report
before
it was further
considered.
The IDC completed
its review in October 1977 and
its report,
with supporting
documents prepared
by the
expert
sub-committee
of astronomers,
was sent to ASTEC on 24
October 1977.
ASTEC responded
to the Prime Minister
with
preliminary
comments on 22 February
1978.
The IDC had commented and recommended on three
2.3
major topics
in its report.
These were the co-ordinated
development
of astronomy
in Australia,
including
the need to
make decisions
on the proposed Australian
Synthesis
Telescope
and on the proposal
for an optical
telescope
(for which the
present
report
makes recommendations);
the rationalised
use
of observatory
facilities,
including
the use of the national
facility
concept;
and the scope for savings
in the Commonwealth's
funding
of astronomical
research.
Following
ASTEC's comments,
the Government made its decisions
on the IDC's report
in
June 1978.
The major decisions
were that an astronomy
advisory
committee would be established
to advise the Minister
for Science,
now the Minister
for Science and the Environment;
major proposals
for new facilities
would be referred
to the
Minister,
and the more expensive
ones would also be referred
to ASTEC; and that any major facility
acquired
with Commonwealth
funds would be operated
as a national
facility.
The Australian
Synthesis
Telescope
Synthesis
telescopes
use a number of antennae in
2.4
combination,
to obtain
an observing
sensitivity
and resolution
of a much higher
order than is possible
with a single
antenna.
A proposal
to build
an Australian
Synthesis
Telescope
(AST),
3
to be operated
in conjunction
with the existing
CSIRO 64metre radio telescope
at Parkes, NSW, was first
brought
to
the attention
of the Interim
ASTEC in August 1975.
The
proposal
came from a Steering
Committee composed of astronomers,
principally
from the CSIRO Division
of Radiophysics,
the
University
of Sydney, and the Australian
National
University.
This proposal,
2.5
and some other proposals
for telescopes,
were placed in abeyance while the review of facilities
described
above took place.
A revised
proposal
for an AST
was sent to ASTEC in February
1978. This took into account
technical
developments
and discoveries
which had been made
in the intervening
period.
The 3-metre
Optical
Telescope
2.6
A proposal
for a major new optical
telescope
was
first
drawn to the Interim
ASTEC's attention
by the then
The proposal
Commission in August 1976.
Universities'
originated
from the Australian
National
University
(ANU) and
involved
the construction
of a 60-inch
(1.5 metre) conventionallymounted photometric
telescope
at Siding
Spring blountain
The main function
of
and costing
$2.5million.
Observatory,
this telescope
was to replace
ageing equipment
at Mt Stromlo,
the satisfactory
use of which was also increasingly
suffering
The progress
from the encroachment
of light
from Canberra.
of the consideration
of this proposal
was also halted
by the'
Government's
decision
to institute
a review of astronomical
observatory
facilities.
While the observatories
review was under way, the.
2.7
original
proposal
for an optical
telescope
underwent
a
series
of radical
changes in design and proposed use, as a
result
of the technological
advances in telescope
design.
A
for a 3-metre optical
telescope
of novel
new proposal,
design,
was submitted
by the ANU in May 1978.
X-ray
Astronomy
A proposal
in x-ray astronomy was brought
to
2.8
This proposal
involved
ASTEC's attention
in February
1978.
the,use
of the United States
'Space Shuttle'
(currently
under development)
to carry x-ray astronomy
equipment
developed
by the Physics
Department
of the University
of
The program would require
$200,000 per year for
Tasmania.
4
five years,
to be expended on x-ray
instrument
construction,
observation,
and analysis
of results.
Ii undertaken,
it
would continue
an involvement
with x-ray astronomy which the
University
of Tasmania has maintained
since 1973, mainly by
the use of balloon-borne
detectors.
3.
ASTRONOMYIN AUSTRALIA
Astronomy has been an important
and successful
3.1
area of research
in Australia
during
the last twenty-five
but the time has now come when substantial
years or so;
investment
in new instruments
is required
if high-quality
ASTEC
work is to continue
to be possible
in this
country.
has therefore
been faced with the difficult
problem of how
to advise the Government on the appropriate
level
of funding.
should funding
be increased
to enable the.
The question
is:
astronomical
effort
to be strengthened,
be kept at about the
or be allowed
to decline
with the
same level
as at present,
at present
comparatively
meglected,
intention
that other areas,
can be encouraged?
ASTEC's view is that the middle course should be
3.2
followed,
that research
in astronomy
should be maintained
for the time being at approximately
the present
level
in
real terms.
To allow Australian
astronomy
to decline
would
be greatly
regretted
both here and in international
scientific
circles.
The excellent
work that has been done, and the
special
position
of Australia
in the southern
hemisphere,
both support
the belief
that we have a responsibility
to
continue
the work at least
at about the present
level;
it
is clear that the scientific
capability
exists.
3.3
Acceptance
of this view implies
that,
so long as
substantial
capital
investment
on new
it remains accepted,
instruments
will
be necessary
at intervals
of about ten to
We have now arrived
at one of these points
in
twenty years.
time.
That Australia’s
research
efforf
ASl’EC recommends:
astronomy
be maintained
-foT the time being at ab0ii.t
present
ZeveZ fn real terms.
iz
the
It is also necessary
to consider
whether Australia
3.4
is training
the right
number of postgraduate
students
in
ASTEC has briefly
examined this and can see
this
subject.
no immediate
reason to suggest a change from the present
situation.
5
Finally,
3.5
ASTEC has given some preliminary
consideration
to the arrangements
needed for observations
at wave-lengths
that require
telescopes
at high altitu,des,
whether on mountains
in appropriate
locations
or on satellites
or space-shuttles.
It has been suggested,
for example,
that Australia
should
join in the project
to establish
telescopes
on Mauna Kea in
the Hawaiian
Islands
where some observations
can be made
that are impossible
at lower altitudes.
Another
suggestion,
that Australia
should join in
3.6
the space-shuttle
astronomy
program which allows observations
to be made from outside
the earth's
atmosphere
and, of
allows
the astronomer
to observe any.part
of the
course,
heavens,
has already
been mentioned.
These ideas are important
enough to justify
further
3.7
study at an appropriate
time.
One way of proceeding
would
be, as explained
in Paragraph
6.3 below, for the Astronomy
Advisory
Committee to examine whether there is a concensus
on strategy.
ASTEC’S
own preference,
in general,
is to
-encourage research
that is uniquely
appropriate
to Australia.
4.
THE AUSTRALIAN SYNTHESIS TELESCOPE (AST)
This proposal,
which was first
made public
in
4.1
September 1975, is for an array of antennae to be operated
in conjunction
with the existing
CSIRO 64-metre
radio telescope
telescope
uses the aperture
at Parkes,
NSW. A synthesis
it is
involving
advanced electronics;
synthesis
technique,
possible
to obtain
an observing
sensitivity
and resolution
of a much higher
0rde.r than is possible
with a single
antenna.
Instruments
of this kind have
4.2
number of years at several
locations
in
notably
at Westerbork
in Holland
and at
and have made substantial
contributions
knowledge and understanding.
been operating
for a
the northern
hemisphere,
Cambridge in England,
to astronomical
The main argument in support
of the AST proposal
4.3
is that it would command the southern
sky and so enable
observations
to be made that are not accessible
to astronomers
The proponents
of the Australian
in the northern
hemisphere.
in evidence-to
ASTEC, have demonstrated
Synthesis
Telescope,
that in the current
state of astronomical
knowledge, the
proposed synthesis
telescope
will
be occupied
for at least
If new
25 years on observations
of the southern
skies.
classes
of astronomical
objects
are discovered
their
exploration
6
will
place even further
demands on the time of the proposed
telescope.
The use in synthesis
mode will
mean that the
present
64-metre
telescope
will
be used about half of its
time in this way, leaving
it free for the balance
for other
experiments.
In its study of this matter ASTEC has consulted
a
4.4
number of senior
astronomers
in Australia,
England and the
The view of astronomers
generally
is that
United States.
there is a pressing
need for the southern
skies to be
examined in the same way as has already
been done in the
northern
hemisphere,
especially
as the centre
of our own
galaxy is visible
from Australia.
The availability
and supply of Australian
astronomers
4.5
The
who could make use of the AST has also been examined.
proponents
of the AST showed that a large proportion
of
experienced
Australian
astronomers
with international
reputations
would still
be active
at the time of completion
of the proposed telescope
and would be able to put the
instrument
to good use.
The attached
figure
showing the age
distribution
of potential
AST users demonstrates
this to be
the case.
Moreover,
the provision
of first-class
facilities
will
always attract
good scientists
to use them, and this is
important
in ensuring
the continuation
of current
levels
of
high-quality
astronomical
activity
in Australia.
It is evident
that there is overwhelming
support
4.6
for the proposal
by Australian
astronomers,
and ASTEC is
convinced
that this project
should be given first
priority
among the various
telescope
proposals.
It is implicit
in
this view that the new instrument
would be regarded
as a
national
facility
to which all Australian
astronomers
can
have right
of access,
subject
only to their
projects
being
accorded observing
time by a representative
time-allocation
committee,
working
in a similar
manner to that successfully
used for the Anglo-Australian
Telescope.
Alternative
configurations
for an Australian
4.7
Synthesis
Telescope,
and their
costs,
have been closely
Synthesis
telescopes
are arrays
of antennae,
considered.
some fixed
and some moveable;
when used in combination,
as
already
mentioned,
these produce a resolution
and sensitivity
of observation
greatly
in excess of those achievable
by one
The number and spacing of fixed
and moveable
antenna alone.
and their
size,
affect
the cost of construction,
antennae,
and the observing
time required
to make a
the sensitivity,
full
synthesis
map of a given object
of interest.
7
AGE DISTRIBUTION
30
OF POTENTIAL
40
50
AST
USERS
m
AAO*
m
MOUNT STROMLO
m
STATE UNIVERSITIES
m
CSIRO
60
AGE (YEARS)
* Anglo-Australian
Observatory
4.8
The proponents
of the AST have examined several
possible
configurations
for the proposed telescope,
and
believe
that the most satisfactory
configuration
would have
the following
parameters:
Total number of antennae
(excluding
existing
64-metre
Number of moveable antennae
Antenna diameter
Baseline
length
Time for synthesis
Construction
cost
dish)
:
:
:
10
4
18 metres
1164 metres
48 hours
$12.5million
in December
quarter
1978dollars
The Steering
Committee for the AST argues that this configuration
from the astronomical
point
of view, for an
is near optimal,
Australian
Synthesis
Telescope.
It has high speed, operational
convenience
and versatility,
good angular
resolution,
and
moderate cost.
It can also be extended
in power by the
addition
of new antennae.
A reduction
in the cost could be achieved
principally
4.9
by reducing
the number of antennae
(particularly
the number
of moveable antennae)
and the antenna diameter.
The disadvantages
of reduced-cost
configurations
are that sensitivity
would be
reduced,
and that such configurations
take longer
to produce
a synthesis
map. This could lead to an excess demand for
time on the telescope
over the available
supply.
The slowest
configuration
which has been considered
(which involves
only
one moveable antenna)
could produce only about 30 synthesis
maps per year;
the project
would hardly
be worthwhile
on
this basis.
ASTEC has carefully
considered
alternative
configurations
4.10
and supports
the configuration
described
in Paragraph
4.8
above.
In the long run so-called
'reduced
cost'
configurations
would be iflore expensive,
and less efficient,
for the following
reasons:
.
the reductions
in cost which would be obtained
are
disproportionately
small compared with the differences
in operating
efficiency;
.
the increased
time taken to produce a synthesis
by
any of the reduced-cost
configurations
would
inevitably
lead to pressure
from astronomers
to
upgrade the AST by the addition
of new antennae;
9
.
The increased
time taken will
also
expensive
to produce each individual
map;
make it more
synthesis
.
the cost of antennae
is increasing
in real terms
over time and it will
therefore
be more expensive
to build
a reduced-cost
configuration
initially,
and add further
antennae
in later
years.
Moreover,
the unit cost of antennae should be less if all
the antennae to be used are ordered,
and constructed,
together:
those responsible
for the detailed
design of the
AST will
necessarily
design the instrument
according
to whatever
configuration
is approved initially.
A
clear commitment from the start
to the ultimate
configuration
is therefore
likely
to forestall
expensive
design changes which would result
from a
series
of upgradings
from a lower-cost
configuration
to the final
instrument.
4.11
The proponents
of the Australian
Synthesis
Telescope
have estimated
that construction
of the telescope
will
take
The capital
cost of the instrument,
and its
five years.
consequent
impact on Commonwealth Budgets,
wi.11 thus be
spread over five years.
ASTEC recommends:
That the Australian
Synthesis
Telescope
CAST) be given the first
priority
among telescope
proposaZs
and that the construction
be authorised
at a cost of $22,5milZion
(December quarter
1978 dollars),
spread over 5 years.
The main initiative
to construct
a synthesis
4.12
telescope
has come from the CSIRO Division
of Radiophysics;
that Division's
64-metre
radio telescope,
at Parkes, would
It is therefore
be the key component of the new instrument.
suggested
that the carriage
of the project
be entrusted
to
CSIRO both for detailed
design and construction
with the
maximum possible
Australian
participation,
and for subsequent
The use of the instrument,
when functioning,
is
operation.
The telescope
should be available
for use
another matter.
including
of course those
by all Australian
astronomers,
of projects
should be on
belonging
to CSIRO, and selection
the basis of merit as determined
by a Time Allocation
Committee.
Provisions
should also be made for astronomers
from abroad to
be eligible
for consideration
by the Time Allocation
Committee.
In this way some of the hospitality
that Australian
astronomers
10
have enjoyed
at observatories
abroad
can be returned.
4.13
The control
of the project,
both during
development
and construction
and in its subsequent
operation,
should
follow
the successful
model of the Anglo-Australian
Telescope.
An AST Board, having perhaps six members, should be appointed
by-the Minister
for Science and the Environment
and should
have overall
responsibility.
Thati
ASl’EC recommends:
I
the AustraZian
Synthesis
Telescope
be bui%t and operate86 52~ CSdIiO under coztr~:ct
to a Board to
Soy Seie-flee and the MZn7J-~po;ment;
be appointed
b$ the X’-L:i9,ster
”
that the teZescope be i-z,aczrded as a national
facil,ity
available
for use by a%% AustraZian
astronomers;
and that the se%ection
and be the responsibility
of research
programs be based on merit
of a Time AZZocation
Ccmmittee.
4.14
The annual operating
cost of the telescope
is
estimated
by the Steering
Committee to be $1.29million
(December quarter
1978 $), $675,000 of which would be met by
CSIRO, leaving
$620,000 to be found.
ASTEC, in its report
on national
facilities
in Volume 1A of 'Science
and Technology
in Australia
1977-78',
recommended that:
wherever
possible,
practical
and reasonable
charges
be made to users of national
facilities
to recover
operating
costs of the facilities
(Paragraph
4.3.24).
In accordance
with this principle,
the allocation
4.15
in the Commonwealth Budget for running
costs of the Australian
Synthesis
Telescope
should be such as to cover not only the
abovementioned
$620,000,
but also some part of the CSIRO's
proposed contribution
of $675,000,
(representing
the proportion
of time the existing
64-metre
dish is involved
in work with
the AST), but that practical
and reasonable
charges be made
to users to recover
part of the operating
costs.
The charges
should not however be large enough to inhibit
the use of the
telescope.
11
'THE 3-METRE OPTICAL TELESCOPE
5.
This proposal
by the Australian
National
University
5.1
is for the construction
of an instrument,
at the Mt Siding
Spring Observatory,
which would be at the forefront
of
recent
technical
advances in optical
telescope
design.
It
would incorporate
three major, recent
technical
developments:
.
The telescope
would be a thin-mirror
type.
Recent
technical
advances in computer control
of thin
mirrors,
to overcome distortions
in their
surfaces,
allow mirrors
to be constructed
with a much higher
diameter-to-thickness
ratio
than before,
with
consequent
savings
in cost.
.
The telescope
would use an alt-azimuth
mount,
rather
than the conventional
equatorial
mount.
Again,
computer control
allows
this cost-saving
type of mounting,to
be used.
.
.The telescope
would be housed in a building
which
would rotate
with the telescope.
This would save
costs
(no need for an expensive
dome structure)
and would greatly
increase
the versatility
of the
'instrument;
heavy, complex equipment would travel
new sets of observing
equipment
with the telescope;
would be shifted
into place quickly
as required.
The technical
purpose of the instrument
would be
5.2
to undertake
on-axis
photoelectric,
spectra-photometric
and
The instrument,
which has been
infra-red
observations.
would be compatible
with the
estimated
to cost $3million,
Anglo-Australian
Telescope
in that much of the instrumentation
would be interchangeable.
It is intended
that the instrument
be an Australian
5.3
to be used principally
by astronomers
universities'
telescope,
from all Australian
universities,
in collaboration
with
The justification
of the proposal
hinges
other user groups.
mainly on the argument that the telescope
will
be used for
There is a
the research
training
of postgraduate
students.
if built
in the way intended,
danger that such an instrument,
would become more an instrument
for research
than for the
It would therefore
be
.t
training
of postgraduate
students.
necessary
to make special
provision
in the operating
arrangements
to ensure access by post-graduate
students.
for the telescope,
12
5.4
ASTEC is attracted
by this proposal,
which is
undoubtedly
an ingenious
and economical
way of strengthening
Australia's
resources
for optical
astronomy,
but believes
that it should be accorded
a lower priority
than that for
may have to be given by the universities
the AST. Consideration
to the question
of how the next generation
of astronomers
is
the attention
of the Australian
Vice-Chancellors'
to be trained;
Committee and the Universities
Council
of the Tertiary
Education
Commission should be drawn to this matter.
ASTEC
believes
that the Australian
National
University
should reexamine its proposal
for the 3-metre telescope
in the light
of comments from the bodies just mentioned,
as its priority,
relative
to other initiatives,
rests
largely
on its use for
research
training.
ASTEC recommends:
That the Australian
Vice-ChanceZZors'
Committee and the Universities
CounciZ be invited
to consider
whether the facilities
availabZe
for training
young astronomers
and that the Australian
National
University
are adequate,
re-examine
its proposa2 for a 3-metre optical
telescope
as a
training
instrument
in the light
of their
findings.
There is a possibility
that this telescope
could
5.5
be funded as a joint
Italian-Australian
exercise.
Such a
proposal
would be supported
by ASTEC, as -it would insure.
against
any p'oss-ible under-employment
of the facility
and
would reduce the amount of Commonwealth .Government commitment.
Any proposal
for joint
funding
should be considered
only
after
the investigation
of training
facilities,
mentioned
above, is completed.
6.
ASTRONOMYAT OTHER WAVELENGTHS
Some British
astronomers
have suggested
that major
6.1
growth-points
in astronomy
are at wavelengths
other than
those observed by optical
and radio-telescopes.
Progress
has been made in developing
the necessary
instruments
in
Australia,
particularly
for millimetre-wavelength
observations.
The decision
to proceed with the AST will
inevitably
6.2
mean that,
because of the heavy commitment of financial
and
technical
resources
to this project,
there cannot also be
substantial
new initiatives
in other instruments,
and this
has given ASTEC some concern.
Nevertheless
there is so much
support
for the AST, and so much work waiting
to be done
13
with it,
that
is the correct
the Council
one.
is
satisfied
that
its
recommendation
6.3
In this circumstance,
it is important
to ensure
that such resources
as can be devoted to astronomy
in Australia
at these other wavelengths
are well employed,
and in particular
that excessive
fragmentation
of effort
is avoided.
For this
reason,
the Astronomy Advisory
Committee should take the
lead in determining
the strategy
for research
at these other
wavelengths.
A conference
of interested
Australian
astronomers,
to discuss
how Australia
could make internationally-valuable
contributions
at these wavelengths,
would be useful.
ASTEC recommends:
'That the Astronomy Advisory
Committee
examine astronomy
at other wavelengths
(X-ray,
gamma-ray,
infra-red,
ultra-violet),
and determine
the best strategy
adopt in relation
to national
projects
in this area.
to
The resolution
of the particular
proposal
in x-ray
6.4
astronomy
(described
in 2.8) would depend on the outcome of
the above examination
by the Astronomy Advisory
Committee.
It should be noted that the expenditure
involved
is less
than the suggested
Slmillion
threshold
for ASTEC consideration
of any new proposal
for facilities.
Volume 1A of the ASTEC
report
~'Science and Technology
in Australia
1977-78'
contains
proposals
for an administrative
mechanism whereby,projects
costing
between $150,000
(the upper limit
considered
by the
Australian
Research Grants Committee)
and Slmillion
(the
threshold
for ASTEC 'national
facility'
consideration)
may
and ASTEC reaffirms
its recommendation
for
be examined,
application
in this particular
instance.
14
APPENDIX
WORKING PARTY ACTIVITIES
ASTEC appointed
a Working Party of Council
members
to investigate
proposals
for major new telescopes,
to
consult
on further
directions
for Australian
astronomy,
and
The Working Party membership
to report
to the full
Council.
was:
.
.
.
Sir Louis Matheson
Dr L.W. Davies
Mr A.W. Hamer
(Convener)
The Working Party consulted
widely
with the proponents
and with distinguished
Australian
and
of the new telescopes,
This consultation
included
a visit
to
overseas
astronomers.
the Australian
National
Radio Astronomy Observatory,
at
while in the
Parkes, NSW. Two members of the Working Party,
consulted
senior
astronomers
United Kingdom for other purposes,
Those consulted
included:
there.
.
Professor
W.N. Christiansen,
Professor
of Electrical
Engineering,
University
of Sydney, and Chairman of
the AST Steering
Committee for the Australian
Synthesis
Telescope
.
Mr H.C. Minnett,
Radiophysics
.
Professor
University
.
Dr B.J. Robinson
Radiophysics
.
Dr D.H. Morton,
.
Professor
Australian
.
Dr D.S. Mathewson,
Observatory
CSIRO Division
Chief,
B.Y. Mills,
of Sydney
Professor
of the
Director,
of
of Astronomy,
CSIRO Division
of
Anglo-Australian
Telescope
I.G. Ross, Deputy Vice-Chancellor,
National
University
Acting
15
Director,
Pit
Stromlo
.
Professor
K.C. Westfold,
Monash University,
Chairman of the expert
sub-committee
advising
Inter-Departmental
Committee responsible
for
review of astronomical
observatory
facilities.
.
Professor
University
L.H. Aller,
Professor
of California
.
Professor
Bart J. Bok,
Mt Stromlo Observatory
.
Professor
Sir Bernard Lovell,
Jodrell
Bank Observatory,
UK
.
Professor
.
Dr F. Graham Smith,
Observatory,
UK
.
Dr H. Atkinson
Sir
Fred
former
Hoyle,
Director,
of the
the
the
of Astronomy,
Director,
Director,
UK
the
UK Science
Royal
Research
Greenwich
Council.
Questions
about and criticisms
of the proposals,
which were made by those consulted,
were referred
back to
The Working Party also
the proponents
for clarification.
maintained
frequent
contact
with the proponents,
seeking
explanations
of policy
and technical
points
as they wer'e
raised.
The Working Party discussed
its findings
with the
and a draft
Report was
full
Council
on several
occasions,
The draft
considered
at the ASTEC meeting on 13 February.
was revised
in the light
of this discussion
and the final
version
prepared.
R78/1322
Cat.
No.
79 759% 1
16