The Decade of Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics -- Copyright -- Preface -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- THE DECADE OF DISCOVERY -- RESTORING THE INFRASTRUCTURE -- ACHIEVING A BALANCED SPACE PROGRAM -- THE PRIORITIZED INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM -- Large Programs -- Small and Moderate Programs -- Space-based Programs -- Ground-based Programs -- THEORY AND COMPUTERS -- LUNAR ASTRONOMY -- ASTRONOMY AND SOCIETY -- 1 Recommendations -- INTRODUCTION -- Our Place in the Universe -- Discoveries of the 1980s -- The 1990s: The Decade of Discovery -- PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THIS STUDY -- Charge to the Committee -- Contents of This Report -- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING GROUND-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE -- ACHIEVING A BALANCED SPACE PROGRAM -- Overall Strategy -- Significance of Large Space Observatories -- RECOMMENDED NEW EQUIPMENT INITIATIVES -- Ground and Space Initiatives -- The Combined Equipment List -- Small Projects and Technological Initiatives -- Explanation of New Equipment Initiatives -- Large Programs -- Ground-based Astronomy -- Infrared-Optimized 8-m Telescope. -- Millimeter Array. -- Southern 8-m Telescope. -- Space-based Astronomy -- SIRTF. -- Moderate Programs -- Ground-based Projects -- Adaptive Optics and Interferometry. -- 4-m Telescopes. -- Fly's Eye. -- Large Earth-based Solar Telescope. -- VLA Extension. -- Space-based Projects -- Dedicated Spacecraft for FUSE. -- SOFIA. -- Explorers. -- Astrometric Interferometry Mission. -- International Collaborations. -- Small Programs -- Ground-based Projects -- Two-Micron Survey. -- Infrared Instrumentation. -- Cosmic Background Imager. -- Laboratory Astrophysics. -- Other Programs. -- Space-based Projects -- Small Explorers. -- Other Projects. -- Technology Development -- Ground-based Technology -- Space-based Technology -- 2 Science Opportunities -- INTRODUCTION.

OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND THE SEARCH FOR OTHER PLANETS -- The Formation and Evolution of Our Solar System -- The Search for Other Planets -- Comets and the Origins of Life -- Weather and Volcanoes -- THE LIFE HISTORY OF STARS -- The Sun -- The Formation of Stars -- The Life and Death of Stars -- THE LIFE HISTORY OF GALAXIES -- The Milky Way as a Galaxy -- The Evolution of Galaxies -- The Power Source of Quasars and Active Galaxies -- The Birth of Galaxies -- THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE -- The Big Bang Model -- The Large-Scale Structure of the Universe -- Dark Matter -- The Origin of the Universe -- The End of the Universe -- 3 Existing Programs -- INTRODUCTION -- GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY -- Optical and Infrared Astronomy -- Large Mirrors -- Adaptive Optics and Interferometry -- Radio Astronomy -- Centimeter Wavelength Astronomy -- Millimeter and Submillimeter Wavelength Astronomy -- Planetary Astronomy -- Solar Astronomy -- The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence -- SPACE ASTRONOMY -- The Great Observatories -- Hubble Space Telescope -- Gamma Ray Observatory -- Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility -- The Explorer Program -- The Suborbital Program -- International Collaborations -- Shuttle Payloads -- Technology Development -- THEORETICAL AND LABORATORY ASTROPHYSICS -- PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICS -- 4 New Initiatives -- INTRODUCTION -- THE DECADE OF THE INFRARED -- HIGH SPATIAL RESOLUTION -- The Millimeter Array -- Adaptive Optics -- Optical and Infrared Interferometers -- Astrometric Interferometry Mission -- Large Earth-based Solar Telescope -- VLA Extension -- CONSTRUCTION OF LARGE TELESCOPES -- A Southern 8-m Telescope -- Construction and Support of 4-m Telescopes -- THE INFORMATION EXPLOSION -- OTHER INITIATIVES -- Dedicated Spacecraft for Fuse -- Acceleration of the Explorer Program -- Fly's Eye Telescope -- 5 Astronomy and the Computer Revolution.

INTRODUCTION -- A HIERARCHY OF COMPUTING POWER -- DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING -- DATA REDUCTION AND ANALYSIS -- ARCHIVING -- COMPUTERS AND THEORETICAL ASTROPHYSICS -- RECOMMENDATIONS -- Archiving -- Workstations and Hierarchical Computing -- Networks -- Community Code Development -- 6 Astronomy from the Moon -- ASTRONOMY AND THE SPACE EXPLORATION INITIATIVE -- THE MOON AS AN OBSERVATORY SITE -- Physical Characteristics -- A Human Presence -- SCIENCE FROM A LUNAR OBSERVATORY -- Observations with Single Telescopes -- Interferometry at Visible and Near-infrared Wavelengths -- Interferometry at Submillimeter Wavelengths -- Radio Observations -- High-Energy Astrophysics -- AN EVOLUTIONARY PROGRAM OF TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT -- SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES -- THE IMPACT OF THE LUNAR PROGRAM -- WHERE SHOULD THE PROGRAM BE IN 10 YEARS? -- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS -- 7 Policy Opportunities -- INTRODUCTION -- THE PREVIOUS DECADE -- EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE -- REVIVING GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY -- BALANCED SPACE ASTROPHYSICS PROGRAM -- INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION -- 8 Astronomy as a National Asset -- OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE -- ASTRONOMY AND AMERICA'S SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP -- Public Scientific Literacy -- Training of Professional Scientists -- SYNERGISM WITH OTHER SCIENCES -- High-Energy and Particle Physics -- Geophysics -- ASTRONOMY AND THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT -- An Astronomical Context for the Earth's Environment -- Models of the Earth's Environment -- Astronomy, Weather, and Ozone Depletion -- USES OF ASTRONOMICAL TECHNIQUES OUTSIDE ASTRONOMY -- Medicine -- Industry -- Defense Technology -- Why They Call It Universal Time -- Energy -- ASTRONOMY AS AN INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISE -- 9 References -- Appendices -- Appendix A Glossary -- Astronomical Terms -- Abbreviations and Acronyms -- Appendix B Status of the Profession.

The Demographics of Astronomy -- The Growth of Astronomy -- Astronomy as a Profession -- The Funding of Astronomical Research -- Support from the National Science Foundation -- Support from NASA -- Access to Ground-Based Telescopes -- Optical and Infrared Astronomy -- Radio Astronomy -- Appendix C Contributing Scientists -- Benefits to the Nation from Astronomy and Astrophysics -- Computing and Data Processing -- High Energy from Space -- Infrared Astronomy -- Interferometry -- Optical/IR from Ground -- Particle Astrophysics -- Planetary Astronomy -- Policy Opportunities -- Radio Astronomy -- Science Opportunities -- Solar Astronomy -- Status of the Profession -- Theory and Laboratory Astrophysics -- UV-Optical from Space -- Working Group on Astronomy from the Moon -- Appendix D Members, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources -- Index.