icing of volume 8 of the papers of the Smithsonian's first 

 secretary. 



With the Center tor Museum Studies, the National Collec- 

 tions Program cosponsored an introductory workshop on man- 

 aging museum collections tor staff in small, emerging, 

 minority, and rural museums. 



Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 



Iruin I. Shapiro, Director 



Summary - 



The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is dedi- 

 cated to the "increase of knowledge" through the discovery 

 and explanation of those physical processes that determine the 

 nature and evolution of the universe, and to its "diffusion" 

 through the dissemination of research results to the scientific 

 community, the creation of educational materials for teachers 

 and students, the training of teachers, and educational out- 

 reach to the general public. 



Headquarrered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, SAO is 

 joined with the Harvard College Observatory in the Center 

 for Astrophysics (CfA), which has more than 250 professional 

 staff engaged in a broad program of research in astronomy, as- 

 trophysics, and earth and space sciences organized by divi- 

 sions: atomic and molecular physics, high-energy 

 astrophysics, optical and infrared astronomy, planetary sci- 

 ences, radio and geoastronomy, solar and stellar physics, and 

 theoretical astrophysics. Observational data are gathered by 

 instruments aboard rockets, balloons, and spacecraft, as well 

 as by ground-based telescopes at SAO's Fred Lawrence Whip- 

 ple Observatory in Arizona and Oak Ridge Observatory in 

 Massachusetts, and at a millimeter-wave radio installation in 

 Cambridge. 



Current initiatives include the completion of an array of 

 telescopes operating at submillimeter wavelengths, to be 

 placed at a site near the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii; the 

 conversion of the Multiple Mirror Telescope to a single-mirror 

 instrument 6.5 meters in diameter; and preparation for the 

 launch of space experiment in x-ray, submillimeter, and solar 

 astronomy as well as the flight of a hydrogen maser clock 

 aboard a joint US-Russian mission. 



Atomic and Molecular Physics Division 

 Kate Kirby, Associate Director 



The Atomic and Molecular Physics Division carries out re- 

 search in a broad range of theory, experiment, and observa- 

 tions intended in large part to understand those atomic and 

 molecular processes applicable to astrophysical environments 

 and the terrestrial atmosphere. To help interpret astronomical 

 data and to provide more accurate data for astrophysical diag- 



nostics, the AMP laboratory conducrs experiments to measure 

 dielectronic recombination coefficients, electron-impact exci- 

 tation cross sections, radiative transition probabilities and 

 photoabsorption cross sections. Other experimentalists con- 

 duct research in stratospheric chemistry via balloon-borne and 

 satellite-borne instruments. Division staff also administer and 

 participate in the Institute for Theoretical Atomic and Molec- 

 ular Physics (ITAMP). Over the last seven years, the Institute 

 has been extremely successful in attracting leading theorists 

 in the field to visit and collaborate wirh each other, and in 

 supporting a number of graduate students and postdocs to 

 conduct independent research in forefront areas of theoretical 

 atomic, molecular and optical physics. Funding for ITAMP 

 comes from the National Science Foundation. 



High Energy Astrophysics Division 

 Stephen Murray, Associate Director 



Research in high-energy astrophysics concentrates on some of 

 the most energetic objects and processes in the universe. 

 Studying their x-ray emission is essential for understanding 

 their formation, evolution, and ultimate fate. Because x-rays 

 are absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, observations must be 

 made from balloons, rockets, and satellites. Thus, approxi- 

 mately 90 percent of the support for programs in this division 

 is provided by NASA contracts and grants. For example, rhe 

 Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) will represent 

 the highest resolution, most sensitive x-ray telescope ever to 

 be flown; and, in preparation for launch in 1998, SAO has 

 been involved in the fabrication and testing of its special op- 

 tics and the design and construction of its High Resolution 

 Camera. In addition, SAO is the site for the AXAF Science 

 Center (ASC) which will receive, analyze, and archive AXAF 

 data and function as a central clearinghouse of information 

 and support for astronomers using the facility. During the 

 construction of AXAF, the ASC will provide support for test- 

 ing and verification of the ground system, for mirror and in- 

 strument calibration, and tor planning orbital operations 

 which relate to science data. 



Optical and Infrared Astronomy 

 John Huchra, Associate Director 



Optical and infrared data are fundamental to astronomy, and 

 research in this division includes observational cosmology, 

 searches for extrasolar planets, infrared observations of star- 

 forming regions of the galaxy, atmospheric chemistry, optical 

 interferometry, and gamma-ray astronomy. This division is 

 also charged with the operation of — and the development of 

 instrumentation for — the ground-based facilities operated by 

 CfA: the Fred L. Whipple Observatory (FLWO), the Multiple 

 Mirror Telescope (MMT), and the Oak Ridge Observatory 

 (ORO). Users of these telescope facilities come from almost 

 every division at the CfA and also include scientists from 

 many other national and international institutions. 



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