Microsoft money to support telescope development
Posted: Sat, Jan 5, 2008, 10:21 AM ET (1521 GMT)
The co-founder of Microsoft and a former company executive who flew in space last year contributed $30 million to a major new telescope project this week. Bill Gates and Charles Simonyi will provide the money to enable the construction of the three primary mirrors of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Simonyi, who flew to the ISS last year, will provide $20 million through his Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, while Gates will provide $10 million. The LSST, to be built on a Chilean mountaintop, will be the most powerful survey telescope in the world, supporting astronomers on research ranging from the discovery of near Earth asteroids to studies of dark matter and dark energy. The LSST, whose total cost is estimated to be $400 million, is scheduled to begin observations in 2014.
The co-founder of Microsoft and a former company executive who flew in space last year contributed $30 million to a major new telescope project this week. Bill Gates and Charles Simonyi will provide the money to enable the construction of the three primary mirrors of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Simonyi, who flew to the ISS last year, will provide $20 million through his Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, while Gates will provide $10 million. The LSST, to be built on a Chilean mountaintop, will be the most powerful survey telescope in the world, supporting astronomers on research ranging from the discovery of near Earth asteroids to studies of dark matter and dark energy. The LSST, whose total cost is estimated to be $400 million, is scheduled to begin observations in 2014.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, June 6
Proposed U.S. Grant Funding Rules Spark Worry, Backlash in Astronomy
Sky & Telescope — 6:42 am ET (1042 GMT) Planets aplenty may lurk around supermassive black holes
Scientific American — 6:42 am ET (1042 GMT) Astronauts take shelter on the International Space Station because of air leaks
Scientific American — 6:41 am ET (1041 GMT) NASA reverses evacuation alert order for astronauts aboard space station
Reuters — 6:38 am ET (1038 GMT) Artemis III rocket boosters incoming as Northrop Grumman ships segments to KSC
Orlando Sentinel — 6:38 am ET (1038 GMT) |
