US Astronomers Face Funding Dilemma as Giant Telescope Projects Compete for Support
In a major setback for US astronomers, it seems that they may only be able to build one giant ground-based telescope instead of the two they had hoped for. The two projects in question are the Giant Magellan Telescope, planned for construction in Chile, and the Thirty Meter Telescope, set to be built on Maunakea in Hawaii. While construction has already begun in Chile, the Thirty Meter project has faced delays due to concerns from Native Hawaiians who consider Maunakea sacred. Both projects are backed by international funders, but neither has the necessary $3 billion to fully fund their telescopes.
Many astronomers had been counting on the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide funding to cover the shortfall. However, last week the National Science Board, which oversees the NSF, recommended capping its contributions at $1.6 billion. Furthermore, the board indicated that it was hesitant to even spend that much, citing the need to allocate funds to other scientific fields. This suggests that the NSF will likely have to choose which of the two telescopes to support, as there may not be enough money for both. The agency is expected to develop a plan by May on how to make this decision.
While both projects could potentially secure additional private or alternative funding, having the NSF involved would ensure that US astronomers are guaranteed a percentage of observing time on the telescopes. Without NSF support, this time may be reserved for scientists working with other funding partners. It is also unlikely that the US Congress will allocate additional funds for the telescopes, as science budgets are predicted to remain flat or even decrease due to tight budgets.
Adding to the urgency is the fact that the European Southern Observatory is already ahead of both projects, rapidly constructing the 39-meter-wide Extremely Large Telescope in Chile. Losing access to one of the planned telescopes could be a significant blow to US leadership in astronomy, according to some researchers. John O’Meara, chief scientist at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, argues that “great vision should drive great budgets, not vice versa.”
However, other scientists see the funding cap as a necessary push. It has been six years since the projects joined forces to seek funding from the NSF, and some believe that the lack of progress has been detrimental. Michael Turner, an astronomer at the University of Chicago, welcomes the announcement, stating that “it was going nowhere, and these two projects were withering on the vine.” He previously argued in an editorial that the NSF should fund only one of the projects.
In response to the funding cap, a spokesperson for both projects released a joint statement expressing their interest in the National Science Board’s recommendations. They highlighted that a 2021 survey of US astronomers’ priorities ranked building the two giant telescopes as the top priority for ground-based astronomy in the next decade. The projects have been pitching themselves as a partnership between a northern and southern observatory that could collectively study most of the night sky. However, they may now find themselves competing for survival.
The current largest ground-based telescopes, such as the Keck telescopes on Maunakea, have mirrors ranging from 8 to 10 meters wide. Scaling up to larger telescopes would enable significant advancements in astronomical discoveries, including exoplanets, supermassive black holes, star formation, and other celestial objects. The Giant Magellan Telescope aims to combine seven mirrors to create a light-gathering surface that is 25 meters wide. On the other hand, the Thirty Meter Telescope plans to use 492 hexagonal segments to construct a 30-meter-wide mirror. The construction of the Maunakea telescope has been on hold as Hawaii establishes a new stewardship authority for the mountain, which includes greater representation for Native Hawaiians.
“These giant telescopes are becoming more expensive than philanthropy can afford,” says Michael Turner. “We need to build an extremely large telescope, and we need to get going.” The fate of these ambitious projects now rests on securing sufficient funding to move forward and maintain US leadership in the field of astronomy.