96-12-09 Grant Extends OSU Share in Telescope

OHIO STATE GETS GRANT TO EXTEND ITS SHARE IN TELESCOPE PROJECT

     COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University astronomers have won a 
major grant to increase their participation -- and, therefore, 
their observing time -- in the Large Binocular Telescope project.

     University officials received word last week that Research 
Corporation, one of the current partners in the LBT, is 
designating a portion of its share in the project for Ohio 
State's use.  That portion is valued at $2.5 million.

     The university announced in October that it was beginning 
negotiations to become a partner in what will be the world's 
biggest telescope on a single mount.  According to that plan, 
Ohio State would commit $6.4 million in cash and services to the 
project in exchange for a one-eighth share of its use.

     State's share would increase to one-sixth.  That would mean 
that university researchers and students would have access to up 
to 55 nights of observing time each year.  Before the new grant, 
Ohio State was to have access on only 42 nights annually.

     Research Corporation President John P. Schaefer said, "We 
evaluated the Ohio State proposal by having a committee of 
distinguished researchers visit the astronomy department.  After 
their review, it is clear that the university has an extremely 
strong program.

     "The key element in the department moving into the forefront 
of international astronomy research is it getting access to 
state-of-the-art facilities," Schaefer said. "We believe that the 
university's full participation in the LBT provides that access 
and will be the catalyst for future advances and development by 
Ohio State astronomers."

     Schaefer said that the astronomy department "has made 
remarkable progress and is on the way toward becoming a leader 
and powerful force in the astronomical community."  The Research 
Corporation grant will cover a 10-year period that begins as soon 
as the telescope is operational.  The agreement may also be 
renewed after that period as long as "university faculty 
demonstrate through publication and other appropriate measures 
that the science being done is of high quality and is having a 
commensurate impact on science," Schaefer said.

     Robert Gold, acting dean of the College of Mathematical and 
Physical Sciences, said, "This award represents an important 
external validation of the quality of our astronomy program."  
The LBT is being built atop the 10,600-foot Mount Graham in 
southern Arizona and will have two 8.4-meter (27.6 feet) primary 
mirrors.  Together, they will perform as an 11.8-meter (38.7 
feet) telescope.  Once completed, it will have 24 times the 
light-gathering power of the Hubble Space Telescope.

     Current partners in the LBT Corporation include the 
University of Arizona, the Research Corporation, and a group of 
astronomical institutes from Italy.  A group of German scientific 
institutions is negotiating to join the project as well.  When 
Ohio State and the German institutions do join, the project will 
be fully subscribed.

     The LBT is a continuation of an earlier partnership, the 
Columbus Project, from which Ohio State withdrew for financial 
reasons in 1991.  Ohio State has retained a small share in the 
project based on its initial investment in spite of its earlier 
withdrawal.
                             #
Contact:  Patrick Osmer (614) 292-2022; Osmer.1@osu.edu.
Written by Earle Holland (614) 292-8384; Holland.8@osu.edu.


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Mon, 9 Dec 1996 15:12:14 -0500 (EST)]
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