[2] AURA is a nonprofit consortium[3] of 46 US Universities and 4 International affiliates formed in 1957 to enable the US Federal Government to provide forefront astronomical facilities to the entire US academic community.

Today AURA has both a National and International mission to enable astronomical discovery and promote broad engagement in exploring the Universe.

While at STScI he used his discretionary Hubble Telescope time for two major science undertakings, the Multi-Cycle Treasury, and the Frontier Fields Programs.

[1] After earning his degrees, Mountain held a Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) fellowship at Imperial College.

Mountain led the team that designed, built, and commissioned the two 8-meter-diameter Gemini telescopes atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Cerro Pachón in Chile.

[10] Mountain also developed an adaptive optics group to help the Gemini telescopes remain at the forefront of observational infrared astronomy.

[10] As STScI's director, Mountain collaborated with the astronomical community, NASA, and the crew of STS-125 to develop the science priorities for the Hubble Space Telescope's final servicing mission.

[10] As an astrophysicist, Mountain's research interests have included star formation, instrumentation for infrared astronomy, and the capabilities of advanced telescopes.