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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