Subject: NSF Letter - Astronomical Sciences
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 91 08:26 EST

Good Morning Paul,
    Please post this to the NIH Listserver as: NSF91132.911115
The NIH Guide will be forwarded shortly.
                     Dottie
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
Title       : NSF91132-"Looking Up, Vol 1., No.1"  Newsletter of the
              Division of Astronomical Sciences
Type        : Letter
NSF Contact : AST
Date        : November 13, 1991

Message from the Division Director
 
I hope this newsletter will be
useful.  The purpose is to inform
the astronomical community about
what is going on at the National
Science Foundation (NSF),
particularly in the Division of
Astronomical Sciences (AST).  Of
course, communication must be a
two-way street.  We would like
comments, questions and ideas from
astronomers.  Please do not
hesitate to write, telephone, e-
mail or visit members of the
scientific staff.
 
As everyone is aware, times are
tough for the basic sciences at NSF
and elsewhere.  The funding profile
cannot possibly keep up with all
the good ideas and projects that
the community is producing.  Some
hard choices will have to be made
among desirable and worthy
alternatives.
 
In 1993, and beyond, it is likely
that NSF will face increasing
budget constraints.  Our job as
scientific staff in AST is to make
the best arguments possible for our
programs within the constraints and
to spend our funds wisely.  To do
this, we need community support and
advice.  That is why standing
committees like the Advisory
Committee for Astronomical Sciences
(ACAST) and special efforts like
the National Academy of Sciences
Decade of Discovery Report are so
important.  ACAST must recommend
priorities within the funds
available.  I see that as being an
increasingly difficult and
essential task.
 
Given what I have said about
difficult times, how should be
respond?  I believe that we should
devote our energy to figuring out
how to do things creatively.
Astronomers have been particularly
successful at finding a variety of
funding sources--from private
donors to foreign debt retirement
funds.  We also enjoy an unusual
degree of recognition and support
from the general public.  In the
near term, we must use our
"auxiliary assets" to leverage what
we can do with Federal support.
With that sort of frame of mind,
our Decade of Discovery will be
launched on a good course with
every probability of success.
 
                          Julie Lutz

 
News About the FY 1992 Budget
 
The FY 1992 budget for NSF has now been
finalized.  The total NSF request was $2,722M, with
$1963.5M for Research and Related Activities
(RRA).  The budget bill reduced the total NSF
budget to $2,577.5M, with RRA receiving $1879.0M.
 
The NSF Director must now make provisional
allocations to Directorates, such as our Directorate
for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS).  The
Assistant Director for MPS then makes provisional
allocations to Divisions.  We say what we can and
cannot do with the proposed allocations.  That
information goes back up through the Assistant
Director to the Director's office.  Either of those
offices may adjust the allocations.  After that is
done, I get a firmer number for FY 1992, and I
propose a detailed distribution of funds among my
programs.  Those numbers are then sent back up the
line and are eventually checked out with the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) and the
Congress.
 
As you can imagine, all of this takes weeks.  We
will not know how much we actually have to spend
until well into FY 1992.
 
The FY 1992 budget request to Congress for AST
was $107.42M, a 10.4% increase over the FY 1991
allocation of $97.32M.  In addition, there was a
separate item of $16M in the request for the 8-meter
telescopes.
 
The Conference Committee language provided
+$12.5M for Astronomy for maintenance, operations
and adaptive optics.  However, we will not know
our final budget for some time.  It seems certain
that the research directorates at NSF will be short of
funds.

             Julie Lutz

 
New Program Names
 
A number of our research programs have been
renamed.  The new names more accurately reflect
the content and alignment of the scientific programs.
 
The new program names are:
 
Planetary Astronomy
(formerly Solar System Astronomy)
 
Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics
(formerly Stars and Stellar Evolution)
 
Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation
(formerly Astronomical Instrumentation and
Development)

Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
(formerly Extragalactic Astronomy)
 
Education, Human Resources, and Special Programs
(formerly Cross-Directorate Programs)

 
 
Deadline for Proposals to the Stellar Astronomy and
Astrophysics Program
 
We will be continuing the experiment begun a year
ago in the Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics
Program utilizing a single deadline for proposals
submitted to this program.  The deadline for
proposals requesting support beginning in FY
1993 (which begins October 1, 1992) will be May
15, 1992.  Proposals received after that date for this
program will not be considered for support during
that fiscal year.  If you have questions about this
program, please give Myron Smith a call (202-357-
7622) or send him an e-mail message ([email-masked]).

 
 
Increased Award Duration
 
We are going to try to increase the average award
duration of our research grants to 3 years.  If you
have been submitting research proposals with shorter
requested durations, we suggest that you consider
proposing for 3 years.  If you have any questions,
contact your Program Director.

 
Reviewers Needed
 
The Division uses a mail peer review system, in
which proposals we receive are sent to individual
members of the community for review.  Graduate
students are not normally used as reviewers.  If you
have not served as a reviewer, and would be
interested in doing so, please contact the Program
Director in the disciplinary area that you are
interested in serving.

 
Positions Available
 
Two positions as Program Director (Visiting
Scientist) for a period of 1 year (possibly 2 years)
will become available in the spring and summer of
1992.  The positions are those of Program
Director of the Extragalactic Astronomy and
Cosmology Program  and Program Director of
the Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics Program.
A minimum of 6 years research experience (beyond
the Ph.D.) in these fields is required.
 
If you would like to be considered for any of these
positions or know of qualified candidates, including
women, minorities, and disabled persons, please
contact Dr. Julie H. Lutz (202-357-9488) or send her
an e-mail message ([email-masked]).
 
NSF is an equal opportunity employer.

 
Staff Changes and New Staff
Members

Dr. Laura P. Bautz
 
Dr. Laura P. Bautz has been on sabbatical since
October 1990 at the University of California
(Berkeley) where she has been working on radio and
infrared interferometry with Jack Welch and Charlie
Townes.  She has also been associated with
activities related to the Superconductor Supercollider
Project.  She will continue on sabbatical for another
year at Berkeley.
 
Dr. Denis F. Cioffi
 
Dr. Denis Cioffi served as an Associate Program
Director for the Planetary Science Program and the
Galactic Astronomy Program from January to June
of this year.  He has left NSF and is now a Visiting
Senior Scientist in the High Energy Branch of the
Astrophysics Division at NASA.
 
Dr. James P. Wright
 
Dr. James P. Wright is spending a year as the Staff
Associate for Education and Human Resources in the
office of the Assistant Director for Mathematical and
Physical Sciences.  While Jim is on this assignment,
Penny Sackett (see below) is assuming his duties.
 
Dr. Penny D. Sackett
 
Dr. Penny D. Sackett has joined us for a year as
our Program Director for Education, Human
Resources, and Special Programs.  Penny is on leave
from her position of Assistant Research Professor of
Physics and Astronomy at the University of
Pittsburgh.  Her primary research interest is the
distribution of dark matter in galaxies.
 
Dr. Myron A. Smith
 
Many of you already know Dr. Myron A. Smith as
our Program Director for Stellar Astronomy and
Astrophysics.  Myron is on leave from the Computer
Sciences Corporation (CSC), where he is Research
Scientist on the International Ultraviolet Explorer.
His research interests center on the pulsational
properties of stars.
 
Dr. Benjamin B. Snavely
 
Dr. Benjamin Snavely will be joining us for a period
of 2 years as Program Director of the Advanced
Technologies and Instrumentation Program.  Ben has
been a member of our Astronomy Advisory
Committee, and he is currently the Assistant General
Manager of the Advanced Technology Products for
the Federal Systems Division at the Eastman-Kodak
Corporation.

 
Advisory Committee for Astronomical Sciences (ACAST)
 
The Advisory Committee for Astronomical Sciences
(ACAST) provides advice and recommendations to
the Division Director concerning research programs,
proposals, observatories, and projects in NSF-funded
astronomy.  The Committee also provides advice to
the Division Director in formulating short- and long-
range plans in astronomy, including recommendations
of relative priorities.
 
The next ACAST meeting will take place November
17, 18, 19 at 1110 Vermont Avenue NW, Room
500E, Washington, DC.  The third day of this
meeting will be a joint meeting with NASA's
Astrophysics Subcommittee.  ACAST meetings are
open to the public except when sensitive items such
as proposal reviews are considered.
 
Dr. Marcia Rieke is Chairman of ACAST.  Four
new members joined the Committee this fall:  Dr.
Roger Chevalier, Dr. Edward Churchwell, Dr. Peter
Conti, and Dr. Anneila Sargent.  They will serve 3
year terms.
 
We would like to thank retiring members Dr. Frank
Bash,  Dr. David  Morrison,  Dr. Malvin Ruderman,
and Dr. Joseph Taylor, whose terms concluded on
September 30, 1991.

 
 
Current ACAST Membership List

Terms Expiring on September 30, 1992:
 
Dr. Eric Herbst
Department of Physics
The Ohio State University
174 West 18th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-2653
 
Dr. Stuart D. Jordan
NASA/Goddard Space Flight
Center
Code 680
Greenbelt, MD 20742
301-286-7672
 
Dr. Alan Marscher
Department of Astronomy
Boston University
725 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-5029
 
Dr. Catherine Pilachowski
Kitt Peak National Observatory
P. O. Box 26732
Tucson, AZ 85726
602-327-5511
 
Dr. Marcia Rieke (Chairman)
Steward Observatory
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
602-621-2731

Dr. J. Anthony Tyson
Physics Research Laboratory
Bell Laboratories
ID 335
Murray Hill, NJ 07974
908-582-6028
 
Terms Expiring on September 30, 1993:
 
Dr. Bruce Balick
University of Washington
Astronomy Department, FM-20
Seattle, WA 98195
206-543-7683
 
Dr. France A. Cordova
Pennsylvania State University
Department of Astronomy and
Astrophysics
525 Davey Laboratory
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-0418
 
Dr. Harley A. Thronson, Jr.
Wyoming Infrared Observatory
Box 3905
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY 82071
307-766-6150
 
Dr. Michael S. Turner
Fermi National Accelerator
Laboratory
Box 500
Batavia, IL 60510
708-840-4521
 
Terms Expiring on September 30, 1994:
 
Dr. Roger Chevalier
University of Virginia
Department of Astronomy
P. O. Box 3818
Charlottesville, VA 22903
804-924-7494
 
Dr. Edward B. Churchwell
University of Wisconsin
Astronomy Department
475 N. Charter Street
Madison, WI 53706
608-262-4909
 
Dr. Peter S. Conti
University of Colorado
JILA
Campus Box 440
Boulder, CO 80309-0440
303-492-8497
 
Dr. Anneila I. Sargent
California Institute of Technology
Down Laboratory for Physics
320-47
Pasadena, CA 91125
818-356-6622
 
Dr. William F. Van Altena
Yale University Observatory
Box 6666
New Haven, CT 06511
203-432-3020
 
NSF/NASA Coordination
 
In a series of meetings which took place during
1991, the staff of NSF's Division of Astronomical
Sciences and NASA's Astrophysics Division met and
formulated a series of proposed agreements
concerning coordination of activities by the two
agencies in the areas of proposal submission and
review.
 
ACAST and NASA's  Astrophysics Subcommittee
will hold a joint meeting on November 19, 1991.

 
 
News From the Programs
 
Adaptive Optics Declassification
 
Important advances in adaptive optics technology
have been declassified recently with the result that
particular technologies and equipment developed
through a Strategic Defense Initiative Organization
(SDIO) research effort have been transferred to NSF.
 
Last spring adaptive optics hardware was removed
from the Air Force Maui Optical Site on Mount
Haleakala, Hawaii, and installed at the Firepond
Facility of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) Lincoln Laboratory for preliminary use in
NSF-sponsored astronomical research.  This will
allow the Division to capitalize on the almost $100
million invested by the Defense Department in this
type of research.
 
The Defense Department began developing the
technology in 1980 through a Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA) classified
program.  The program focused on generating
artificial guide stars--bright, well-defined light
sources that can be used as references for mirror
adjustment.  Additional emphasis was placed on the
development of adaptive optical components,
computer algorithms, and control systems necessary
to correct for atmospheric distortion.
 
Two concepts were developed, both using lasers.
One concept is based on the backscatter from
microscopic particles (the Rayleigh effect) of laser
radiation focused about 5 to 10 kilometers above the
ground, and the other is based on backscatter from
the naturally occurring sodium layer about 90
kilometers up.
 
Each of these two approaches for generating beacons
from backscattered light--and for using the
information contained in the returning light-wave
fronts to correct for atmospheric turbulence--was
demonstrated successfully in field-scale experiments
in 1983 at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory and at
the MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
 
The National Research Council, in its Astronomy
and Astrophysics Survey Committee report,
recommended that, for the next decade, adaptive
optics should be the highest priority among
moderate-cost, ground-based astronomy projects.
 
GEMINI 8-Meter Telescopes Status
 
The GEMINI 8-Meter Telescopes Project is ramping
up rapidly.  GEMINI is an international partnership
to build two 8-meter infrared/optical telescopes--one
on Mauna Kea in Hawaii and the other on Cerro
Pachon (not far from Cerro Tololo) in Chile.  These
two telescopes are designed to provide U.S.
astronomers and their colleagues in the partner
countries with the best infrared/optical capabilities
in the world.  Access to both hemispheres, superb
infrared performance, a comprehensive suite of
instruments and (eventually) adaptive optics should
serve our community well into the next century.
 
In December of 1990 the Science and Engineering
Research Council of the United Kingdom (U.K.)
voted to join the project.  The National Science
Board approved Phase I (basically through Critical
Design Review) at its May 1991 meeting.  The FY
1991 appropriation contained $4M to start the project
and the FY 1992 request is at a level of $16M.
The total U.S share is to be $88M (50% of the
project cost) with the U.K contributing 25%.
Canada had also expected to participate at the 25%
level but, because of fiscal constraints, is now
looking at a reduced share.  Discussions are ongoing
with other potential partners to round out the effort.
 
The Project Office has been established in Tucson
(on top of the NOAO building) and the Project
Manager, Mr. Larry Randall, has filled his top
management positions.  Under the Acting Project
Scientist, Dr. Pat Osmer, project scientists from the
participating countries have prepared the first draft
of the Science Requirements Document detailing the
necessary performance parameters of the telescopes,
with particular attention to the infrared optimization.
 
An interim GEMINI Board of Directors (with
representatives from the U.S. and the U.K. and
observers from Canada) has been established to
govern the project.  The U.S. members are Dr.
Robert C. Bless (Chair), Dr. Craig Wheeler, Dr.
Peter Conti, and Dr. Julie Lutz. For the U.K the
members are Dr. Malcolm Longair and Dr. Ian
Corbett.  Dr. Donald Morton and Dr. Gordon Walker
represent Canada.  The first Board meeting was held
in October in Ottawa.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Site Awards and Supplements

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Program is aimed at attracting talented
undergraduates into careers in mathematics, science,
and engineering by giving them an active research
experience in a stimulating environment.  NSF is
particularly interested in increasing the participation
of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
 
Proposals are invited for support of projects that fit
into one of two major categories:
 
(1) REU Sites, which host typically 8-10 students to
conduct undergraduate research participation projects
of generally 10 weeks duration or more, and
 
(2) REU Supplements to ongoing (or new) NSF
awards that provide research support for typically
one or two undergraduates.
 
REU site proposals are reviewed once a year (the
deadline for FY 1992 funds was October 1, 1991);
REU supplement proposals should be directed to the
cognizant Program Director of the active award.
 
REU site proposals for FY 1992 funding have just
been received and are now under review.
Notification will be made as early as possible,
probably in late winter or early spring of 1992.

REU Supplements to Support Minority Students
 
As part of the Division of Astronomical Sciences
commitment to increase the participation of
underrepresented minorities in astronomy, we will
attempt to support all properly-documented, timely
requests for an REU Supplement to support a
qualified minority student.  Eligible students will be
those who are a member of an underrepresented
minority and who have completed their sophomore
year with a cumulative grade point average of B-
or better.  For more information on REU
Supplements, contact your Program Director.
 
The funded REU sites in Astronomy for the
Summer of 1991 were:
 
Maria Mitchell Observatory*
Nantucket, MA 02554
Contact: Dr. Eileen Friel 508-228-9273
[email-masked]
 
Center for Astrophysics & Space Astronomy
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309
Contact: Dr. J. Michael Shull 303-492-7827
mshull@jila
 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory*
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Contact: Dr. Robert L. Brown 804-296-0222
[email-masked]
 
National Astronomy & Ionosphere Center*
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Contact: Dr. Donald B. Campbell 607-255-9580
[email-masked]
 
University of Wyoming*
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Laramie, WY 82071
Contact: Dr. Ronald W. Canterna 307-766-2005
[email-masked]
 
Haystack Observatory*
Westford, MA 01886
Contact: Dr. Joseph E. Salah 508-692-4764
[email-masked]

Cornell University*
Department of Astronomy
Ithaca, NY 14853
Contact: Dr. Yervant Terzian 607-255-4935
[email-masked]
 
National Optical Astronomy Observatories*
P.O. Box 26732
Tucson, AZ 85726-6732
Contact:
Dr. Sidney Wolff and Ms. Yma Estok 602-325-9282
[email-masked]
 
Northern Arizona University
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Contact: Dr. Kathleen Eastwood 602-523-7159
[email-masked]
 
An asterisk indicates a continuing site in FY 1992.

 
1991 Visiting Professorships for Women Award in Astronomy
 
Congratulations to Dr. Ruth C. Peterson, who has
received a Visiting Professorships for Women
(VPW) Award to spend 2 years at Lick Observatory,
University of California (Santa Cruz).  Dr. Peterson
will be engaged in a program to model the spectra
of old stellar populations in order to study the
element production for a variety of environments and
epochs.

 
Presidential Faculty Fellows and NSF Young Investigator Programs
Replace Presidential Young Investigator Program
 
In September of 1991, the National Science
Foundation inaugurated two new programs:  the
Presidential Faculty Fellows (PFF) program and the
NSF Young Investigator (NYI) Awards program.
Together, these two activities replace the
Presidential Young Investigator (PYI) Program that
operated from 1984 to 1991.  The two new
programs operate independently and separate
nominations are required.  Since the deadlines for
receipt of nominations are coming up soon,
interested individuals and institutions are urged to
contact the PFF and NYI coordinating offices, or the
Program Director for Education, Human Resources,
and Special Programs in Astronomy (Penny D.
Sackett, 202-357-7304) as soon as possible.
 
Congratulations to the 1991 Presidential Young
Investigators in Astronomy
 
Dr. S. G. Djorgovski
California Institute of Technology
 
Dr. Jacqueline N. Hewitt
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
 
Dr. Steven P. Ruden
University of California-Irvine
 
Dr. Stephen E. Schneider
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
 
Dr. Donald M. Terndrup
The Ohio State University
 
Presidential Faculty Fellows Program (PFF)
 
At the request of the President of the United States,
the newly initiated PFF program will recognize and
support the scholarly activities of some of the
Nation's most outstanding young science and
engineering faculty members.  Awards will carry a
grant from the NSF of $100,000 per year for 5 years
and are intended to allow Fellows to undertake self-
designed, innovative research and teaching projects
and to pursue other activities appropriate for
outstanding young faculty.  Thirty PFF awards are
planned for FY 1992, of which 15 will be in
engineering and 15 in science.
 
Institutions in the U.S. that offer baccalaureate,
master's or doctoral degrees in a field supported by
NSF may nominate two PFF candidates per year.
Nominees for the current competition must:  be U.S.
citizens or permanent residents as of December 2,
1991; hold a Ph.D. degree, or equivalent, awarded
between January 1, 1984 and December 2, 1991; and
have begun their first tenure-track or equivalent
position at any 4-year or graduate-level college or
university after December 1, 1988.
The deadline for PFF nominations is December
2, 1991.  Awards will be announced in the spring of
1992.  Further information on the PFF program may
be obtained from the PFF program announcement
(NSF 91-103) and by telephoning NSF at 202-382-
7536.

NSF Young Investigator Program (NYI)

The recently announced NYI program has as its
goals:  the recognition of outstanding young faculty
in science and engineering; the enhancement of the
academic careers of recent Ph.D. recipients through
the flexible support of research and teaching; and
fostering contact and cooperation between academia
and industry.  Each NYI award will consist of an
annual base grant of $25,000 from NSF plus up to
$37,500 of additional funds per year on a dollar-for-
dollar matching basis from industrial and not-for-
profit sources, resulting in a possible total annual
award of up to $100,000.

Institutions in the U.S. that award a baccalaureate,
master's or doctoral degree in a field supported by
NSF may nominate faculty or prospective faculty for
the NYI program.  Nominees for the current
competition: must be U.S. citizens or permanent
residents as of January 31, 1992; must have a Ph.D.
degree or equivalent, awarded or to be awarded on
or after January 1, 1986, but no later than October
1, 1992; must not have entered on a tenure-track
position at any college or university prior to January
1, 1988; and must have a tenure-track or tenured
faculty position or equivalent at their nominating
institution or receive an appointment to such a
position to begin on or before October 1, 1992.

The deadline for NYI nominations is January 31,
1992.  Awards will be announced approximately
June 1992.  Further information on the NYI program
may be obtained from the NYI program
announcement (NSF 91-112) and by telephoning
NSF at 202-357-7861.

Electronic Information System
Available
 
Electronic access to the NSF Bulletin, publications,
announcements, press releases, reports, and
descriptions of funded research projects (FY 89-91)
is now available through the Science and Technology
Information System (STIS).  The full text of
publications can be searched and copied online.  The
system is available 24 hours per day.
 
STIS can be accessed on Internet using the
command
 
telnet stis.nsf.gov   or   telnet 128.150.195.40
 
Once you have connected to the system, log into
STIS with the word public.  Appropriate instructions
and online help are then available for use of the
system.
 
This newsletter is also available on STIS.

 
Ordering NSF Publications
 
Most NSF publications are free of charge and may
be obtained by writing to the National Science
Foundation, Attn:  Forms and Publications, 1800 G
Street, N.W., Room 232, Washington, DC  20550.
Users of electronic mail who have access to either
BITNET or INTERNET may prefer to order
publications electronically.  Electronic requests
should be addressed to
 
Internet:           [email-masked]
Bitnet:             pubs@nsf
 
and should include the NSF publication number and
title, number of copies, your name, and your
complete postal mailing address.  An annual
brochure entitled "Publications of the National
Science Foundation" (NSF 91-61 is the most recent
version) lists all available NSF publications and their
publication numbers.  This brochure is updated on
STIS quarterly.

 

The Proposal Review Process
 
After it leaves your university, what happens to the
proposal which you have so carefully worked on?
 
When the proposal arrives, it is logged in by our
Central Processing System, where it is assigned a
proposal number.  It then comes to the Deputy
Division Director (Morris Aizenman) who determines
which of the Division's programs will review the
proposal.
 
The proposal then goes to the Program Director,
who selects a set of mail reviewers familiar with
the subject matter of the proposal.  The reviewers
are unaware of each other's identity, and they
provide independent written comments and ratings on
the proposal.  When the reviews are in, the Program
Director determines whether the proposal ought to
be recommended for support, and, if so, at what
level.  The Program Director writes a
recommendation discussing the reviewer comments
and includes a personal assessment of the proposal.
 
The proposal, with its recommendation, is forwarded
to the Deputy Division Director for review and
concurrence in the recommendation.  It then goes to
the Division Director for additional review and
concurrence.
 
If the recommendation is that the proposal be
declined, the Principal Investigator and the university
are informed via letter.  If the recommendation is
for an award, the proposal is sent to our Division of
Grants and Contracts, where action is taken and an
award letter is sent to the university.

 
 
Organization of the Division

NSF is the lead agency for ground-based astronomy
within the U.S. Federal Government.  Because of
this, we limit our support to investigations that can
be carried out from ground-based, rather than space-
based, instruments.  We support theoretical research
in all areas of astronomy.
 
Research support is provided through grants to
individual investigators or teams of investigators,
and through the development and operation of three
National Astronomy Centers where radio, optical,
infrared, and special telescopes are made available
on a competitive basis to the scientific community.
Our grant programs provide a broad base of support
for individual investigators at academic institutions
and in private industry.  You should contact the
Program Officer in the area most closely related to
your research for information about appropriate times
for proposal submission.  We are currently carrying
out an experiment within the Stellar Astronomy and
Astrophysics Program with a proposal receipt
deadline set for May 15, 1992.

Planetary Astronomy
 
Dr. Vernon L. Pankonin
202-357-7620        [email-masked]
 
This program supports theoretical and observational
studies of the structure and composition of planetary
surfaces, interiors, atmospheres, and satellites, the
nature of small bodies (the asteroids, comets, and
meteors), and the relevance of these to the origin
and development of the solar system.

Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics
 
Dr. Myron A. Smith
202-357-7622        [email-masked]
 
This program supports theoretical and observational
studies of the structure and activity of the Sun, the
physical properties of all types of stars, all aspects
of stellar formation and evolution, the effects of
mass loss, rotation, and magnetic fields, and the
properties of stellar atoms and molecules of
relevance to stellar astronomy and astrophysics.

Galactic Astronomy
 
Dr. Vernon L. Pankonin
202-357-7620        [email-masked]
 
This program supports theoretical and observational
studies on the interstellar medium, the structure and
evolution of the Galaxy, the distribution and
kinematics of stars in the Galaxy, and the
characteristics of star clusters in the Galaxy.  Studies
of the Magellanic Clouds are also included in this
program.
 
Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
 
Dr. Kenneth C. Turner
202-357-7639
[email-masked]
 
This program supports theoretical and observational
studies of extragalactic objects ranging from the
nearest galaxies (with the exception of the
Magellanic Clouds) to the most distant quasars.
Studies on the origin of the Universe, its large scale
structure, and cosmological studies are also
supported.

Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation
 
Dr. G. Wayne van Citters, Jr.
202-357-9793
[email-masked]
 
Dr. Benjamin B. Snavely
(Dr. Snavely will be joining us in January, 1992.)
 
This program provides support for the development
and construction of state-of-the-art detectors and
data-handling equipment, the procurement of
detection and analysis systems for telescopes, the
development of interactive image-processing systems,
and the application of new technology and
innovative techniques to astronomy.

Education, Human Resources, and Special
Programs
 
Dr. Penny D. Sackett
202-357-7304
[email-masked]
 
This program coordinates the education, human
resource and other special programs of the Division
of Astronomical Sciences with those offered
elsewhere in NSF.  Responsibilities include the
coordination of initiatives aimed at increasing the
participation of women and minorities in astronomy,
initiatives for improving astronomical research and
education, the management of Science and
Technology Centers in astronomy, and activities
related to astronomy proposals submitted to the
Education and Human Resources Directorate of the
Foundation.

Electromagnetic Spectrum Management
 
Dr. Tomas E. Gergely
202-357-9696        [email-masked]
 
This office within the Division coordinates with
other Federal agencies on the use of the
electromagnetic spectrum for research.  The office
is also involved in matters concerning frequency
assignments for other telecommunications and
electronic systems.  This is of particular importance
to the radio astronomy community, since commercial
interests are placing ever-increasing demands on the
radio spectrum.
 
The National Astronomy Centers
 
National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center
(NAIC)
 
Mr. Seth L. Tuttle (Acting)
202-357-9484        [email-masked]
 
Observatory Director:  Dr. Tor Hagfors
607-255-0606        hagfors@crnlastr
 
NAIC's principal observing facilities are found 19
kilometers south of the city of Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
Its principal research instrument is a 305-meter,
fixed spherical radio/radar telescope--the world's
largest single-dish radio reflector.  The frequency
capabilities range from 50 Mhz to 5 GHz, and
include a 2.38 MHz radar system for planetary
studies as well as a 430 MHz radar system for
aeronony studies.
 
National Optical Astronomy Observatories
(NOAO)
 
Mr. Seth L. Tuttle
202-357-9484        [email-masked]
 
Observatory Director: Dr. Sidney Wolff
602-325-9281        [email-masked]
 
NOAO is the national center for research in ground-
based optical and infrared astronomy.  NOAO
includes Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO),
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO),
and the National Solar Observatory (NSO).
Facilities at KPNO are located on Kitt Peak, a
2,089-meter mountain 90 kilometers southwest of
Tucson, and include a 4-meter telescope and a 2.1-
meter telescope with optimized infrared observing
equipment.  CTIO provides facilities for ground-
based astronomy in the southern hemisphere, with
offices and laboratories in La Serena, Chile (about
480 kilometers north of Santiago).  The observing
facilities, including a 4-meter telescope, are located
on Cerro Tololo, a 2,194-meter mountain on the
western slopes of the Andes, 64 kilometers inland
from La Serena.  NSO is devoted to research in the
fields of solar and solar-terrestrial research, and has
observing facilities atop Kitt Peak and Sacramento
Peak.
 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)
 
Dr. Ludwig F. Oster
202-357-9857        [email-masked]
Observatory Director:  Dr. Paul A. Vanden Bout
804-296-0241        pvandenb@nrao
 
NRAO provides radio astronomy facilities available
at three observing sites:  Green Bank (West
Virginia), Kitt Peak (Arizona), and Socorro (New
Mexico).  A 43-meter aperture telescope is located
at Green Bank, and the new 100-meter Green Bank
Telescope is under construction.  A 12-meter
aperture millimeter-wavelength telescope is located
on Kitt Peak.  The Very Large Array (VLA), located
at Socorro, consists of twenty-seven 25-meter
aperture telescopes available for use as an aperture
synthesis instrument.

 
Come See Us
 
Any of you who happen to be in the Washington area are cordially invited to
visit us.  We are located in downtown Washington at 1800 G Street N.W.
(Division of Astronomical Sciences, Room 615), only a couple of blocks from
the White House.  We would welcome your joining us for lunch, and would be
delighted if you would consider giving us a talk on your recent work or other
topics that you feel would be of interest to us.

 
 
Deadlines in Education, Human Resources & Special Programs
 
NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship                          Nov  2, 1991
NSF Graduate Fellowships                              Nov  8, 1991
NSF Minority Graduate Fellowships                     Nov  8, 1991
Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement (ILI)      Nov 15, 1991
Visiting Professorships for Women (VPW)               Nov 15, 1991
Presidential Faculty Fellows (PFF)                    Dec  2, 1991
Research Planning Grants for Women (ROW/PRG)*         Jan 15, 1992
Career Advancement Awards for Women (ROW/CAA)*        Jan 15, 1992
NSF Young Investigators (NYI)                         Jan 31, 1992
Minority Research Planning Grants (MRI/RPG)*          Nov  1, 1991
    Second Target Date for MRI/RPG*                   Feb  1, 1992
Minority Career Advancement Awards (MRI/CAA)          Feb 15, 1992
Young Scholars Awards (YS)                            May  1, 1992
 
An asterisk indicates a program target date, not a deadline.  Interested
parties are strongly urged to contact the Program Director for Education,
Human Resources and Special Programs (Penny D. Sackett, 202-357-7304,
[email-masked]) to discuss eligibility and special considerations.

NSF 91-132
OMB 3145-0058
PT 34,04,18
KW 1013002
   0502031
   0502023
 
..stis file is nsf91132
..expires March 31, 1992
 
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