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The guide alignment scope functions better than anticipated. The primary optics are working very well with no obvious aberrations. As one example of the instrument's contributions to astronomical research, two scientists have used the MMT to discover an exceedingly hot, rapidly pulsating star that is exhausting its fuel supply very quickly. Because of this, the star is "aging" unusually fast and the scientists expect to see physical changes within a few years, compared to the typical astronomical time scales measured in millions or billions of years. Another case would be the recent discovery of what appears to be a second example of what is known as a "gravitational lens effect" in space. Optical gravitational images made during the course of investigations in FY 1980 revealed the presence of what seemed to be a "triple quasar". Spectroscopic observations using the MMT confirmed that the three objects were probably the same distant quasar distorted by some unseen object between quasar and observers.

Facilities development and related management needs, primarily for Mt. Hopkins, will be sought over this period. Of particular importance is the upgrading and improvement of the road from the base camp to the summit to assure safe passage for scientists, the general public, and others. Related to this is obtaining the necessary resources for passenger vehicles and assorts road maintenance equipment. Plans are also developing for a major improvement to base camp facilities at Mt. Hopkins, and this is more fully explained in the Facilities chapter of this document.

[[underlined]] Tropical Research Institute. [[/underlined]] The Institute is the nation's leading biological research center for advanced tropical studies. It is located in the Republic of Panama. Its goals are to conduct research on basic tropical biological processes, support advanced training in tropical research, support visiting scientists at work in related research topics, and promote conservation efforts in the tropics through educational programs.

The Institute maintains a series of land holdings, including the world famous Barro Colorado Island, as field sites for tropical studies. Under the agreement of the Panama Canal Treaty, the Institute is designated as the custodian of the Barro Colorado Nature Monument (BCNM), which includes not only the Island but four adjacent peninsulas in Gatun Lake. This past year much time has been spent in beginning to implement the administrative changes associated with this custodianship. An upgrading of the security force has occurred and continues through personnel training and through strengthening and extending patrol coverage of the land area. Fencing and posting of Gigante and Pena Blanca areas of the BCNM has been completed. Overflights have been established on a biweekly basis to help prevent homesteading, poaching, slash and burn agriculture, and other detrimental activities. Communications systems are being improved. Continued emphasis will be necessary in the years ahead in developing support resources to meet the custodianship and administrative demands of the BCNM.

In future years, the Institute will continue to focus its scientific research capabilities on understanding the biological, ecological, and behavioral processes on which tropical ecosystems are organized. The long-held concept of the tropics as a benign, unchanging and nonseasonal environment has finally lost its credibility, in part as a result of the many excellent