|
|
|
____________________
|
|
|
|
Announcement of Opportunity: UKIRT
Announcement of
Opportunity:
The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope
|
The United Kingdom Infrared
Telescope (UKIRT) is one of the world's leading
astronomical observatories. For more than three decades
it has served the UK and international communities with
unique and forefront capabilities that have led to
remarkable discoveries, supporting the advance of
astronomical science. In addition, UKIRT pioneered many
operational innovations, including flexible scheduling
and the provision of data reduction pipelines. It is an
extremely efficient operation and is currently
experiencing a peak in productivity, based largely on
the very successful UKIDSS programme which has extended
infrared survey imaging to unprecedented depth and area.
Despite these successes, the UK's funding agency for
astronomy, the Science and Technology Facilities Council
(STFC), can no longer support UKIRT beyond 30th
September 2013. This decision follows a review process
and reflects the evolution of the UK's suite of
observational capabilities in a tightly-constrained
financial environment. The observatory, its
instrumentation and its support equipment are therefore
being offered to the global astronomical community
through this Announcement of Opportunity.
We
encourage anyone who is interested in participating in
UKIRT beyond 1st October 2013 to review the
linked prospectus and consider submitting an Expression
of Interest. There are no preconceptions or constraints:
we welcome parties wishing to take over the entire
observatory, parties interested in being minor partners,
and any other permutation. We are willing to consider
any and all possibilities. Details of the facilities
being made available and the process for registering
your interest are all described in the prospectus.
This is the first time that a productive, world-leading
observatory in the 4-m class has been offered to
the global community. We invite you to consider this
unprecedented opportunity. |
|
Professor Gary Davis
Director
|
Prospectus
|
Professor Pat Roche
Board Chair
|
|
|
