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The K passband (central wavelength 2.2 microns, FWHM 0.4 micron) is the longest wavelength standard near-IR passband through which deep ground-based imaging is possible. Thermal emission from telescope, instrument, and sky limits the depth to which such imaging can reach by producing strongly temperature-dependent backgrounds in the range 11-13.5 mag/sq arcsec. This paper describes how a passband, which is denoted as K-prime, located slightly shortward of the standard K passband (central wavelength 2.1 microns), yet still within the same atmospheric window, leads to a significantly lower thermal component of the background, reducing the background surface brightness by up to 0.9 mag sq arcsec, and thereby allowing deeper imaging to be obtained in the same integration time. The photometric differences between the K-prime filter and the standard K filter are discussed.

This report describes studies of cooling flows in rich clusters of galaxies, found to be sources of strong, extended X-ray emission seen by the EINSTEIN satellite. Two complementary lines of investigation were pursued: (1) studies of the dust content of the cluster gas using multi-wavelength data from archival records of the IUE and IRAS satellites in combination with previously obtained optical, and (2) coronal line spectroscopic studies of the bright emission systems.

The following subject areas are covered: (1) the science program (star formation and origins of planetary systems; structure and evolution of the interstellar medium; stellar population; the galactic and extragalactic distance scale; nature of galaxy nuclei, AGNs, and QSOs; formation and evolution of galaxies at high redshifts; and cosmology); (2) implementation of the science program; (3) the observatory-class missions (HST; LST - the 6m successor to HST; and next-generation 16m telescope); (4) moderate and small missions (Delta-class Explorers; imaging astrometric interferometer; small Explorers; optics development and demonstrations; and supporting ground-based capabilities); (5) prerequisites - the current science program (Lyman-FUSE; HTS optimization; the near-term science program; data analysis, modeling, and theory funding; and archives); (6) technologies for the next century; and (7) lunar-based telescopes and instruments.

The presence of high z quasars and radio galaxies tells us that galaxy formation began at z greater than 5, but leaves unanswered the question of when the bulk of galaxies formed. Recent near infrared number counts of galaxies strongly favor a cosmological geometry with q(sub 0) = 0.5 and lambda = 0. Such a model grossly underpredicts blue galaxy counts. Spectroscopy shows that the excess blue galaxies at B = 24 are dwarfs at z approximately equals 0.4 which are no longer seen at the present time. These dwarfs must contain a large amount of baryonic matter which is not included in current estimates of baryonic omega .

The presence of high-z quasars and radio galaxies indicates that galaxy formation began at z greater than 5, but leaves unanswered the question of when the bulk of galaxies formed. Recent near-infrared number counts of galaxies strongly favor a cosmological geometry with q0 = 0.5 and Lambda = 0. Such a model grossly underpredicts blue galaxy counts. Spectroscopy shows that the excess blue galaxies at B = 24 are dwarfs at z = 0.4, which are no longer seen at the present time. These dwarfs must contain a large amount of baryonic matter which is not included in current estimates of baryonic Omega.

Results from the Hawaii imaging and spectroscopy deep survey are discussed. Cumulative galaxy counts now exceed 10 exp 6/deg. To B = 24 the bulk of these galaxies lie at low redshift. Flat spectrum sources constitute a fraction of about 30-40 percent of the sources at B = 24. There are not enough of these to explain the high number counts, but they are an exceedingly interesting population in their own right. It is argued that they are unlikely to lie at z of about 1, but could be either massive starbursters at z of about 2 - 3 or dwarf starbursting galaxies at very low redshift (less than approximately 0.1). In either case they constitute a major episode in galaxy formation.

Theories of the X-ray background are analyzed. Starburst and probably hard X-ray binary models can be dismissed on the basis of exorbitant energy requirements while the hot diffuse intergalactic medium fails to reproduce the residual spectrum. Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) models are only viable if there is a class of AGN which puts out the bulk of its energy in the hard X-rays.

Details of the energy and mass balances are considered in the context of a three-phase interstellar medium. The rates of mass exchange between the different phases are derived based on the pressure variations created by supernova remnant expansions. It is shown that the pressure-confined warm and cold gases have stable temperatures under a variety of interstellar conditions. The three-phase quasi-static configuration is found to be a natural outcome, and both warm and cold phases generally contribute about half of the total mass density to the diffuse interstellar gas. The model is also likely to be self-regulatory in the sense that variations of the input parameters do not strongly alter the general result, which is consistent with most current observations. The consequences of extreme conditions on this model are considered, and the possible implications for interstellar medium in other galaxies are briefly discussed.

It is argued that the observed sample of flat-spectrum galaxies seen in recent deep surveys must contain both early disk systems and early spheroid systems in order to match observed number counts if q sub 0 = 0.5. The low average density of neutral hydrogen in damped L-alpha systems at z = 2 - 3 separates the disk formation at z less than about 2 from spheroid formation at z greater than about 3. Based on color arguments, the period of spheroid formation is assigned to z = 4.

The results of narrow-band and broad-band filter observations of the region surrounding the z = 3.21 quasars, PKS 1614 + 051, made under subarcsec seeing conditions with the 3.6 m CFHT telescope at Mauna Kea are reported. The nuclear region of the Lyman-alpha companion to the quasar is resolved with a FWHM of about 0.9 arcsec A magnitude fainter. Limits on detectable continuum flux from this object suggest that it is a gas cloud interacting with the quasar, and its emission is consistent with simple photoionization by the quasar. However, the presence of several galaxies around the periphery of the quasar is noted. A search of 11 additional quasars at z greater than 3 has failed to show any other such systems. It is argued that this is consistent with the statistics of extended emission line systems in low-z quasars.

NASA's plan to build and launch a fleet of long-lived space observatories that include the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO), the Advanced X Ray Astrophysics Observatory (AXAF), and the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) are discussed. These facilities are expected to have a profound impact on the sciences of astronomy and astrophysics. The long-lived observatories will provide new insights about astronomical and astrophysical problems that range from the presence of planets orbiting nearby stars to the large-scale distribution and evolution of matter in the universe. An important concern to NASA and the scientific community is the operation and maintenance cost of the four observatories described above. The HST cost about $1.3 billion (1984 dollars) to build and is estimated to require $160 million (1986 dollars) a year to operate and maintain. If HST is operated for 20 years, the accumulated costs will be considerably more than those required for its construction. Therefore, it is essential to plan carefully for observatory operations and maintenance before a long-lived facility is constructed. The primary goal of this report is to help NASA develop guidelines for the operations and management of these future observatories so as to achieve the best possible scientific results for the resources available. Eight recommendations are given.

The steady state dynamics of spiral galaxies is analyzed as a two-component system consisting of stars and gas within the framework of the WKB density wave theory. The gravitational influence of the gas is included for the first time in a steady state calculation. The full set of equations for a star-gas galaxy is presented, and the equations are analyzed for small-amplitude forcing. Wave properties near the solar circle are examined, and it is found that the large-scale gas shock disappears for gas content above 8 percent. Instead, gas density profiles change to highly symmetric shapes as a result of the action of the gas self-gravity. The stellar wave is damped by the torque exerted by the gas.

Recent progress in the characterization of the interstellar medium (ISM) by means of optical and UV spectral data is summarized. The gas is studied by focusing on background stars whose spectra can be accurately modeled to provide the light source for the absorption-line scans. The capabilities of earth- and space-based instruments which have been and are used for the surveys are delineated. The distributions of diffuse gas densities and characteristics of the cold, warm and hot gas in the Galaxy are described in terms of the elemental abundances, kinetics and distributions of the gas. Particular note is taken of gas in the solar neighborhood and around SNR, and of absorption-line data of cosmological significance.