Tony Beasley (NRAO)

Tony Beasley Colloquium: NRAO in the US Astronomy Landscape

Charlottesville, VA

Abstract

Title: NRAO in the US Astronomy Landscape

Abstract: The US National Radio Astronomy Observatory operates four major instruments spanning 74 MHz to ~ 1 THz. Over the past two years two major construction programs have completed: the Atacama Large Millimeter Array and the expansion of the Jansky Very Large Array. A sample of the recent exciting science emerging from NRAO telescopes will be presented, and observing trends discussed.

"Big Science" is facing significant challenges in the US, and NRAO is working with the astronomy community, funding agencies and Congress to define new scientific goals and opportunities for the next decade. The Astronomy Decadal Survey ASTRO2020 is looming, and jointly optimizing the outcomes for the space and ground-based Optical/IR and Radio/Millimeter/Submillimeter communities will be extremely difficult. Potential roles for the US astronomy community and NRAO in the international SKA will be discussed.