| Description |
xiv, 330 pages : illustrations (some colour), facsimiles, portraits (some colour) ; 25 cm |
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regular print |
| Contents |
Contents note continued: Developing instruments for studying the universe -- Research frontiers -- Vision for the future -- ch. 12 Stromlo Fellows and a Nobel Prize -- SKA collaboration -- SkyMapper and WiFeS -- Giant Magellan Telescope -- Space research -- Siding Spring Observatory -- Research at the highest level -- A grand vision -- ch. 13 Brian Schmidt's Nobel Lecture 2011: accelerating expansion of the universe through observations of distant supernovae -- Introduction -- Nobel Lecture: Accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of distant supernovae |
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Contents note continued: Telescopes and site testing -- Bok and the Anglo-Australian Telescope -- ch. 7 A life on the dome floor -- A purpose in life: astronomy at the highest level -- Galaxy formation -- Abundance analyses, Magellanic Clouds and quasars -- Control of the Anglo-Australian Telescope -- ch. 8 An astronomical entrepreneur -- Discoveries and observations -- The entrepreneur -- The Advanced Technology Telescope -- ch. 9 An instrumentalist and the MACHO project -- An instrumentalist: his love of engineering -- MACHOS -- Studies of nebulae -- Supernova 1987A -- An Australian Large Optical Telescope -- ch. 10 Masters of the universe -- The Hubble Constant -- The accelerating universe -- Mapping the universe: the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey -- Stars and globular clusters -- International honours for Mount Stromlo astronomers -- ch. 11 Bushfires and a new beginning -- Bushfires destroy the Observatory -- Finding an astronomical niche -- |
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Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 A beginning in the bush -- Proposal for a solar observatory -- Advice on possible observatory sites -- Lobbying for the Observatory -- ch. 2 A bush observatory -- Building Mount Stromlo Observatory -- Hiring staff -- The new field of astrophysics -- Research activities -- Community life -- Take thou the torch -- ch. 3 Caretaker -- Solar Tower and telescope -- The ionosphere and the ozone layer -- Atmospheric electricity -- The future of the Observatory -- ch. 4 Second World War: the Observatory becomes an Optical Munitions Factory -- The physicists -- Additional duties -- Valuable contacts -- ch. 5 The change master -- New directions of research -- US influence at Mount Stromlo -- Larger telescopes and better equipment -- The first bushfire -- Transfer to ANU -- Not yet in the first division -- ch. 6 The astronomical godfather -- Populariser and publicist -- The international graduate school -- Astronomical programs -- |
| Summary |
This book tells the story of the Mt Stromlo Observatory in Canberra which began with W.G. Duffield's idealism and vision in 1905. The Observatory began life as a government department, later becoming an optical munitions factory producing gun sights and telescopes during the Second World War, before changing its focus to astrophysics - the new astronomy. In the ensuing years programs were introduced to push the Observatory in new directions at the international frontiers of astronomy. The astronomers built new, better and larger telescopes to unravel the secrets of the universe. There were controversies, exciting new discoveries and new explanations of phenomena that had been discovered. The Observatory and its researchers have contributed to determining how old the universe is, participated in the largest survey of galaxies in the universe, and helped to show us that the universal expansion is accelerating - research that led to Brian Schmidt and his international team being awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize for physics. These and other major discoveries are detailed in this fascinating book about one of the great observatories in the world |
| Analysis |
Astronomy & space (Australian Capital Territory,Australia) |
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Australian |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Audience |
Adult |
| Subject |
Mount Stromlo Observatory -- History.
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Mount Stromlo Observatory.
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Astronomical observatories -- Australia -- Canberra (A.C.T.)
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Astronomical observatories -- Australia -- Australian Capital Territory.
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Astronomy -- Australia -- History.
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Astronomy -- Australia -- Australian Capital Territory -- History.
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Astronomy -- Australia -- Canberra (A.C.T.) -- History.
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Astronomical observatories -- Australia -- Australian Capital Territory -- Mount Stromlo
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| Author |
Butcher, Harvey R., author
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Sutherland, Ralph, author
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Australian National University. Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics.
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Mount Stromlo Observatory.
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| LC no. |
2014395535 |
| ISBN |
9781486300754 |
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