Explorers of the Southern Sky: A History of Australian AstronomyThis book is both an indispensable reference on the history of astronomy in Australia, and a highly readable study of a scientific discipline in the context of emerging nationhood. It covers not only the science, but the individuals involved and the social and economic climate in which they worked. Starting from the ancient Aboriginal beliefs about the Sky World--the earliest known astronomy anywhere in the world--the authors lead us to the most exciting, high-tech, current and projected research being carried out at Australia's world-class astronomy facilities and universities. The authors cover all branches of astronomy--optical, infrared, X-ray, gamma-ray, microwave, gravitational wave and theoretical--and they include the contribution of amateur astronomers. The nontechnical language, many illustrations, and explanatory figures, ensure that this guide will appeal to a wide range of readers, including professional astronomers, historians of science, students, amateur astronomers and general readers. |
Contents
SAILING SOUTH FOR A NEW SKY 27 | 27 |
THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE | 69 |
A BID FOR FAME | 96 |
FOR LOVE OF THE SUBJECT | 114 |
ASTRONOMY ON A NATIONAL BASIS | 152 |
FROM SWORDS TO PLOUGHSHARES | 195 |
RADIO ASTRONOMY AND THE BIG TELESCOPES | 237 |
ENTREPRENEURS IN ASTRONOMY | 287 |
THE HIGHENERGY FRONTIER | 341 |
DIVERSITY THROUGH INNOVATION | 359 |
OPTICAL ASTRONOMY GOES HIGHTECH | 382 |
A TELESCOPE AS WIDE AS A CONTINENT | 410 |
Notes | 435 |
Glossary of abbreviations | 480 |
500 | |
515 | |
Other editions - View all
Explorers of the Southern Sky: A History of Australian Astronomy Raymond Haynes,Roslynn D. Haynes,David Malin,Richard McGee No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
Adelaide Anglo-Australian Anglo-Australian Observatory Anglo-Australian Telescope antenna array astrophysics Australia Telescope Australian astronomy Bolton Bowen Brisbane British Carte du Ciel Chapter Christiansen collaboration comet Commonwealth Cook cosmic ray Courtesy CSIRO Culgoora Director discovery dish Dover Heights Earth frequency funding Galactic galaxies gamma rays Government Astronomer hydrogen infrared instrument interferometer John later Magellanic Clouds magnetic field Melbourne Telescope Messel Milky mirror Mount Stromlo Mount Stromlo Observatory MSSSO nebulae observations optical Parkes Radio Telescope Parkes Telescope particles Pawsey Perth Observatory photographic Physics polarisation pulsar quasars Queensland radiation radio astronomy radio emission Radio Heliograph radio sources radio telescope Radiophysics Radiophysics Laboratory Royal Astronomical Society Royal Society Rümker scientific Siding Spring Mountain solar South Wales Southern Hemisphere space spectrum stars supernova survey Sydney Observatory Tasmania Tebbutt transit of Venus University of Sydney VLBI wavelengths Woolley X-ray