Opportunities for Astronomical Research using the U.S. System of Ground-Based Optical and Infrared Telescopes

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) manages access to a variety of ground-based telescopes, spanning a range in aperture size, which offer observational capabilities reaching from the near-ultraviolet, through the visual, and into the infrared spectral regions. NOAO's mission is to provide these ground-based astronomical facilities to the nation's astronomers, to promote public understanding and support of science, and to help advance all aspects of US astronomy. As a national facility, NOAO telescopes are open to all astronomers and their students, free of charge, regardless of institutional affiliation, through a peer-reviewed proposal process. NOAO is funded by the National Science Foundation and operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. NOAO has its headquarters in Tucson, Arizona. The overall observational capabilities provided by NOAO will be reviewed, along with recent science highlights, and an outline of future plans for the next decade.