The conclusion of the search for the new NSO Director and the recommendations of the "Parker Committee" are key developments in the history of the Observatory. It is with great enthusiasm that the NSO staff is looking forward to the tenure of Stephen L. Keil as the new NSO Director, beginning 1 April. The NSO appreciates the dedicated efforts of the Director Search Committee, chaired by John H. Thomas (University of Rochester), in conducting the difficult task that culminated in a final selection from among a slate of extremely well-qualified candidates. Congratulations, Steve!
The NRC/NAS study on Ground-Based Solar Research: An Assessment and Strategy for the Future, or the "Parker Committee," has published its report. It is available on the WWW at http://www.nas.edu/ssb/ssb.html, or by contacting the Space Studies Board via e-mail at ssb@nas.edu to request a copy. Features of the report that are of direct relevance to the NSO include prioritized recommendations regarding the completion and operation of the new SOLIS facility; the upgrade and operation of GONG over a whole solar cycle; and the development, construction and operation of a 3-m to 4-m Advanced Solar Telescope (AST).
While a detailed response to the specific recommendations of the Parker Committee report is being formulated, the staff of the NSO is nevertheless encouraged by these recommendations to carry on its national mandate for research in solar physics and the development of advanced solar instrumentation. We note that the SOLIS project is proceeding as is the GONG upgrade (GONG+). The latest developments in AO experiments at Sac Peak are extremely promising and represent important steps toward establishing the technical feasibility of a large-aperture, diffraction limited AST operating at visible and infrared wavelengths (see the AO update by Thomas Rimmele herein). In addition to new telescopes and instrumentation, the NSO is pioneering new ways to deliver ground-based solar data to the scientific and educational communities through its Digital Library. All of these initiatives along with the infrared program and RISE/PSPT appear prominently in the new-format, long-range plan of the NOAO.
Further major activities in the NSO include the NSF management review of SOLIS during February, to be followed by the SOLIS Design Review in April. The ISOON Critical Design Review was concluded in January with a recommendation that the NSO proceed with the production phase. We are also delighted that three NSO scientists, Jack Harvey, Christoph Keller, and Thomas Rimmele, are members of one of the three selected US teams to develop instruments and science programs for the joint Japanese-US-UK solar satellite project known as Solar-B.
Looking forward to upcoming scientific events in the NSO, we call your attention to the GONG workshop in Tucson on 22-24 March and the PROM workshop (on solar prominences) during 8-10 April at NSO/Tucson. On 26 March the NSO and the NOAO Director's Office will sponsor a one-day meeting to celebrate the scientific career of our recently-retired colleague, Robert Howard (first director of NSO).
Mark Giampapa (NSO/Tucson),
Thomas Rimmele (NSO/Sac Peak)
Deputy Directors