This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (August 2020) |
The National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab[pronunciation?]) is the United States' national facility for ground-based, night-time optical and infrared astronomy. It is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), as a federally funded research and development center.
 NOIRLab logo[1] | |
| Motto | Discovering Our Universe Together |
|---|---|
| Established | 2019 |
Field of research | Astronomy |
| Director | Patrick McCarthy[2] |
Deputy Director | Stuartt Corder[3] |
| Location | Tucson, Arizona, United States |
Sponsoring agency | National Science Foundation |
Operating agency | Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy |
| Website | noirlab |
NOIRLab runs four observatories and a center for scientific software and research data archiving. It provides access to observing time for astronomers affiliated with any US institution.
History
editNOIRLab was formed in 2019 by the merger of three predecessor organizations, which were all managed by AURA and funded by NSF. They were:
- The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), which managed Kitt Peak Observatory in Arizona, Cerro Tololo Observatory in Chile, and the Community Science and Data Center
- The Gemini Observatory, which operated Gemini North in Hawaii and Gemini South in Chile
- The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which was constructing the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in Chile
On October 1, 2019, these three organizations merged their operations to form NOIRLab.[4]
Organization
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2024) |
AURA operates the NOIRLab and its facilities under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF).[5]
Facilities
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2024) |
NOIRLab operates the following facilities:
- Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
- Community Science & Data Center
- Gemini Observatory
- Kitt Peak National Observatory
- Vera C. Rubin Observatory
References
edit- ^ "NOIRLab logo". Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "Leadership". noirlab.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ "Stuartt Corder Appointed NOIRLab Deputy Director and AURA Mission Scientist in Chile - Stuartt Corder will start as Deputy Director of NOIRLab and AURA Mission Scientist in Chile on 7 November". www.noirlab.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ "NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory Launched". 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
- ^ "NOIRLab". AURA Astronomy. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
