Possibly bad news for Green Bank and other U.S. astronomical facilities

Message boards : SETI@home Science : Possibly bad news for Green Bank and other U.S. astronomical facilities

Author	Message
Mr. Kevvy Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 15 May 99 Posts: 330 Credit: 35,643,237 RAC: 82,577	Message 1272291 - Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 20:56:22 UTC Last modified: 17 Aug 2012, 21:01:05 UTC
	US Astronomy Facing Severe Budget Cuts and Facility Closures "The US astronomy budget is facing unprecedented cuts with potential closures of several facilities. A new report by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Astronomical Sciences says that available funding for ground-based astronomy could undershoot projected budgets by as much as 50%. The report recommends the closure – called “divestment” in the new document — of iconic facilities such as the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) and the Green Bank Radio Telescope, as well as shutting down four different telescopes at the Kitt Peak Observatory by 2017." The Kepler observations were supposed to be happening at a new receiver at Green Bank, so this is not good. ____________ “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” --- Margaret Mead
	ID: 1272291 ·

samten Send message Joined: 18 May 11 Posts: 221 Credit: 5,115,662 RAC: 7,447	Message 1272393 - Posted: 18 Aug 2012, 2:06:11 UTC - in response to Message 1272291.
	Ouch! That is indeed some bad news :( ____________
	ID: 1272393 ·

tullio Send message Joined: 9 Apr 04 Posts: 2893 Credit: 259,031 RAC: 334	Message 1272424 - Posted: 18 Aug 2012, 4:10:37 UTC
	In Italy we have a new radiotelescope, the Sardinia 64 m antenna, which is adaptive. Let's hope it can give SETI some data, but I am not sure about it. Tullio ____________
	ID: 1272424 ·

Larry Monske Send message Joined: 17 Sep 05 Posts: 237 Credit: 514,490 RAC: 63	Message 1275610 - Posted: 26 Aug 2012, 3:44:49 UTC - in response to Message 1272424.
	Some of these could be donated or bought privately Id love to have a home nearby.
	ID: 1275610 ·

betreger Send message Joined: 29 Jun 99 Posts: 1060 Credit: 2,000,673 RAC: 2,627	Message 1275625 - Posted: 26 Aug 2012, 5:42:43 UTC - in response to Message 1275610.
	Larry, running one of these probably costs a lot more than S@H does. Given the current global economic attitude pure science does not compete with the "what's in it for me?" way of thinking. No bucks for thinking big. ____________
	ID: 1275625 ·

Orgil Send message Joined: 3 Aug 05 Posts: 921 Credit: 97,641 RAC: 58	Message 1275649 - Posted: 26 Aug 2012, 7:41:06 UTC Last modified: 26 Aug 2012, 7:45:39 UTC
	It is clearly shocking period for major parts of scientific driving force: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/15/152751116/why-so-many-ph-d-s-are-on-food-stamps ____________ Mandtugai!
	ID: 1275649 ·

William Rothamel Send message Joined: 25 Oct 06 Posts: 2122 Credit: 1,088,132 RAC: 165	Message 1275674 - Posted: 26 Aug 2012, 8:42:00 UTC - in response to Message 1275649. Last modified: 26 Aug 2012, 8:44:39 UTC
	A worthless survey. Many older people are on Medicare which is the health plan for many older retirees. Medicare is not government assistance, It is a health plan that retirees have been paying into for most of their working life. The plan also has a monthly fee associated with it that must be paid by those participants. I have a masters degree and beyond and am on medicare, I paid a percentage of my salary for many years into it. I am still paying a monthly fee of $300 for medicare Coverage. Also since I am still working I continue to pay that same percentage of my salary. So don't call medicare welfare, for we have paid dearly for it and continue to do so.
	ID: 1275674 ·

William Rothamel Send message Joined: 25 Oct 06 Posts: 2122 Credit: 1,088,132 RAC: 165	Message 1275678 - Posted: 26 Aug 2012, 8:50:51 UTC - in response to Message 1275674.
	On the subject of funding for ground-based astronomy. We must ask ourselves how many SETI projects do we need. Perhaps we need only one good one and not the un-defendable situation of two at one University. Not all research is frivolous, to be sure, but; there is a lot of turd polishing in government sponsored university research.
	ID: 1275678 ·

tullio Send message Joined: 9 Apr 04 Posts: 2893 Credit: 259,031 RAC: 334	Message 1276630 - Posted: 28 Aug 2012, 10:59:25 UTC - in response to Message 1275678.
	On the subject of funding for ground-based astronomy. We must ask ourselves how many SETI projects do we need. Perhaps we need only one good one and not the un-defendable situation of two at one University. Not all research is frivolous, to be sure, but; there is a lot of turd polishing in government sponsored university research. AFAIK UC Berkeley is no longer managing the ATA and therefore is not making any SETI there. Only SETI@home is making an effort. Tullio ____________
	ID: 1276630 ·

tullio Send message Joined: 9 Apr 04 Posts: 2893 Credit: 259,031 RAC: 334	Message 1277521 - Posted: 30 Aug 2012, 12:08:38 UTC
	I've read that the ALMA array has found organic molecules around a star! Tullio ____________
	ID: 1277521 ·

betreger Send message Joined: 29 Jun 99 Posts: 1060 Credit: 2,000,673 RAC: 2,627	Message 1277631 - Posted: 30 Aug 2012, 17:04:39 UTC - in response to Message 1275678.
	On the subject of funding for ground-based astronomy. We must ask ourselves how many SETI projects do we need. Perhaps we need only one good one and not the un-defendable situation of two at one University. Not all research is frivolous, to be sure, but; there is a lot of turd polishing in government sponsored university research. Since we really do not know what we are looking for, the more eyes looking at different things will improve the incredibly small odds. ____________
	ID: 1277631 ·

William Rothamel Send message Joined: 25 Oct 06 Posts: 2122 Credit: 1,088,132 RAC: 165	Message 1277835 - Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 0:18:45 UTC - in response to Message 1277631.
	Since we really do not know what we are looking for, the more eyes looking at different things will improve the incredibly small odds. At some point we will have dissipated our resourses through redundant efforts which will all be underfunded in today's age.
	ID: 1277835 ·

William Rothamel Send message Joined: 25 Oct 06 Posts: 2122 Credit: 1,088,132 RAC: 165	Message 1278020 - Posted: 31 Aug 2012, 8:35:05 UTC - in response to Message 1277835.
	Since we really do not know what we are looking for, the more eyes looking at different things will improve the incredibly small odds. I do believe we know what we are looking for. The question is are we going about it with the most thorough and intelligent way. We are looking for spurious or directed electromagnetic evidence from another intelligent species in our Galaxy. On a more scientific level we are combing electromagnetic receptions for signs of non random emissions that may contain some intelligence or a message that would indicate sentience.
	ID: 1278020 ·

Mr. Kevvy Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 15 May 99 Posts: 330 Credit: 35,643,237 RAC: 82,577	Message 1288949 - Posted: 28 Sep 2012, 18:01:36 UTC Last modified: 28 Sep 2012, 18:09:32 UTC
	Another article on this appeared a few days ago. Looks like the recommendation is complete defunding in five years. It's been linked on Slashdot today. Now why can't the U.S. find money for science, health, infrastructure or anything else? I wonder... - Spends more on the military than the rest of the top 15 spenders combined - Spends about 4x more on the military than China, but with about 1/4 of the population, so around 16x as much per citizen - The U.S. military expenditure is almost half of the entire world's - This one, failed, project to develop software radios for the military wasted $6 billion so far. This is close to NASAs annual budget, and 3x the NSFs annual budget. ____________ “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” --- Margaret Mead
	ID: 1288949 ·

Kiska Send message Joined: 31 Mar 12 Posts: 3 Credit: 22,655 RAC: 517	Message 1294117 - Posted: 12 Oct 2012, 9:49:35 UTC
	Indeed this is a great loss not only to the U.S but to the world. Mr. Kevvy question: do you think a fundraiser would help along with ads and other funding? ____________
	ID: 1294117 ·

Message boards : SETI@home Science : Possibly bad news for Green Bank and other U.S. astronomical facilities