Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!henry From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) Newsgroups: net.followup Subject: Re: the doom of ground-based astronomy Message-ID: <4246@utzoo.UUCP> Date: Mon, 20-Aug-84 18:42:25 EDT Article-I.D.: utzoo.4246 Posted: Mon Aug 20 18:42:25 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 20-Aug-84 18:42:25 EDT References: <4196@utzoo.UUCP>, <369@utastro.UUCP>, <4215@utzoo.UUCP>, <362@aquila.UUCP> Organization: U of Toronto Zoology Lines: 34 > NO, NO, NO, NO, NO ..... well, maybe. It all depends on your definition of > "the long run". Ground based astronomy is not doomed in our lifetimes, > whereas powersats are quite possible on that timescale. I'm not a politician; when I say "in the long run", I refer to a time span rather longer than the next election or two. Also, if really cheap space transportation develops, ground-based astronomy may well be doomed in our lifetimes... > For a start, there > are so many things you can do from the ground where the extra expense of > space is a complete waste. The real point is, there is essentially nothing that you can do *better* from the ground. The only thing standing in the way of the mass movement of astronomy into space is cost. > There are also projects (like mine, since I > should declare bias [although the signature should be enough]) which need > the largest possible telescope area.... My own view is that nobody in his right mind should be making long-term plans to build a big ground-based telescope any more. It no longer makes sense. I agree that bigger mirrors are desirable, and agree that they should be built on the ground *if* they cannot be built in space -- the point is that they should be built in space. Once the space station is operational -- and by the way, astronomers who oppose it are cutting off their noses to spite their faces -- this will be obvious to all. -- "The trouble with a just economy is, who runs the Bureau of Economic Justice?" Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry