1. “My God! It’s Full of Stars…” Astronomers, Computers, and Data Deluges W. Patrick McCray University of California, Santa Barbara Image from Kubrick’s film 2001

2. An early solution to data floods… “Computers” classifying stellar spectra at Harvard College Observatory, c. 1890

3. Data analyst, Lawrence Berkeley Lab Cyclotron, c. 1965;

4. Neil Armstrong, X-15 test pilot, 1960: “this hypersonic vehicle is an instrument of the pilot…depending on him for control and flight success.” X-15 Cockpit; note the 3 control sticks

5. ‘Old-School’ Astronomical Observing (as imagined in 1930s) Using a large telescope demanded “…high artistry – doing it yourself. Mastery of a beautiful and cantankerous instrument, a big telescope.” (Albert E. Whitford)

6. Kitt Peak 4-meter Control Room, c. 1988 (note the blacked out window)

7. Illustration from Dennison, “Computer Control of Large Telescopes,” 1971

8. Was “Technology Supplanting Artistry”? Kitt Peak astronomer Roger Lynds, 1975, at Cassegrain focus of 4-m telescope

9. Astronomical Cyborgs?

10. Gemini – Example of a modern “cyber-observatory”

11. Example of “data flow” in a modern observatory (from c. 1998)

12. NSF depiction (2001) of its “National Virtual Observatory” initiative

13. Galaxy Zoo Project; part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Another way of dealing with the data flood…enlist the public

14. “Know thyself… Know your telescope.” Hallway sign, Cornell Astronomy Department, 2002