Identification and Protection of Existing and Potential Observatory Sites

While a number of site testing campaigns are in progress throughout the world, the dominant efforts seem to be associated with plans for very large telescopes. These plans, improved telescope technology, and the realization that astronomical observations from space will put increasing demands on ground-based observing facilities have given new impetus to site identification and to the optimum utilization of existing sites. A most excellent review of the factors involved in site identification is now available in the Proceedings of the ESO Workshop on Site Testing for Future Large Telescopes, edited by A. Ardeberg and L. Woltjer, 1984. These Proceedings and Woolf’s review (1982, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 20, 367) provide a solid background of current site evaluation factors.