Kui

®Y

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

TUCSON

LUNAR AND PLANETARY LABORATORY OF
THE INSTITUTE OF ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS

10 November 1960

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics
Stanford University
Medical Center

Palo Alto, California

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Many thanks for your letter of September 26. I did not arrive
here until October 7 and have had quite a rush to set up our
Laboratory here and get the "Orthographic Atlas of the Moon"
off to press. This happened on November 7, and we hope to
have it available by about December 1.

Stanford University has been interested in radio astronomy,
which I think is logical in view of the strong department of
electrical engineering and Dr. Terman's interest. I am not
surprised that the University has shown little interest in optical
astronomy because of the very strong position of the University
of California nearby. Over two million dollars were invested

in the Lick Observatory recently, and it would be difficult for
Stanford to do anything comparable. The University campus
would not be a suitable place for ground based astronomical
observation, nor would the hills to the west or the mountains

of the Coast Range. There is no reason, however, why Stanford
could not set up a strong theoretical department, working closely
with physics; or even a modest solar department, taking advan-
tage of the reasonably good daytime conditions and the interest
in radio astronomy which could be fruitfully channeled into solar
physics.

As to promoting additional ground based facilities for the study

of the Moon and the planets, I feel as keenly about the need now
as I did when I prepared my memorandum for NASA last June.

I am sure there will be no objection to your showing this memo-
randum to Professor Seifert in his capacity as President of the

American Rocket Society. I have listed in this memorandum

PD 2d
Dr. Joshua Lederberg -2- 10 November 1960

a variety of problems that need our early attention, and you and
Dr. Seifert can undoubtedly work out a program which would fit
in with the overall policies and interests of Stanford. If I can

be of assistance on specific points, please let me know. Frankly,
I have been somewhat concerned about the prospects of additional
ground based facilities for lunar and planetary studies. While
there is a widespread opinion that much additional work needs

to be done, the agencies having the responsibilities for the

space program appear reluctant to assume this responsibility

for a matching ground based program. Perhaps additional
"education" is needed. Here at the University of Arizona I have
taken the following position, in discussions with President Har-
vill and others: I can persene ily get telescope time at the
McDonald and Mt. Wilson Observatories, and probably elsewhere;
but this doesn't solve the problem for junior personnel and
students and it is particularly important that a strong graduate
school be set up to supply the necessary manpower in this field
of very great potential scientific interest.

With best regards,

Sincerely yours,

/ SO ‘ |
Gerard P. Kuiper
GPK/llo

PS - lam sending, under separate cover, a set of my reprints.