"Uncertain Future: America's Dilemma with Two Giant Telescopes"

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is facing a budget cap that may force it to choose between funding the construction of either the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) or the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), both American-led projects. The proposed cap is less than the projected cost of either telescope, potentially jeopardizing one of the projects. The decision could impact the global coverage of astronomical observations, as each telescope has been designed to complement the other in different hemispheres. The NSF's decision will have significant implications for the future of ground-based astronomy and the pursuit of scientific knowledge.