Skies dim for British astronomers

[Rick]

UK astronomers will lose access to two of the world's finest telescopes in February, as administrators look to plug an £80m hole in their finances.

Observation programmes on the 8.1m telescopes of the Gemini organisation will end abruptly because Britain is cancelling its subscription.

It means UK astronomers can no longer view the Northern Hemisphere sky with the largest class of telescope.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7210342.stm

[Rick]

The UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has decided to plug a gap in its finances by withdrawing from the Gemini telescope programme, the BBC reports.

The shock move, which will leave British astronomers unable to view the Northern Hemisphere sky with Gemini's 8.1m telescopes in Hawaii and the Chilean Andes (see pic), comes as the programme is reaching its full potential after 15 years' development into which the UK has pumped £70m in construction and running costs.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/28/uk_gemini_announcement/

[Carole]

Absolutely typical: 
"It comes as the programme is reaching its full potential after 15 years' development into which the UK has pumped £70m in construction and running costs".  So the previous 70m is a waste of money.

I actually know a professional Astronomer in Edinburgh who has lost his job because of this.

Carole

[Tom C]

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Physics-Funding/

[Carole]

Tom, I think some-one put this in the site before, so maybe lots of us have already signed it.

But for those who didn't..............

Carole