Title Beyond southern skies : radio astronomy and the Parkes Telescope / Peter Robertson

Published Cambridge [England] ; Melbourne : Cambridge University Press, 1992

Copies

Location	Call no.	Vol.	Availability
MELB	522.682099445 Rob/Bss		AVAILABLE

Description xi, 357 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 26 cm Summary "Beyond Southern Skies tells the story of the planning and construction of the Parkes Telescope in rural New South Wales, Australia and surveys its achievements over the past thirty years. Around this central theme Peter Robertson presents a broader history of radio astronomy, describing its rapid rise to become the respected partner of traditional optical astronomy. The opening up of the radio window on the universe has been one of the most exciting developments in modern science." "Radio astronomy in Australia had its origins in the secret radar research that was carried out during World War II by CSIRO's Radiophysics Laboratory in Sydney. After the war, radio astronomy centres emerged in Britain, the Netherlands and the United States, but it was the Radiophysics group that grew to be the largest, the most diversified and arguably the most successful. For the first time, Australia led the way in a major area of physical science, an achievement which placed the country firmly on the world scientific map. The giant dish at Parkes became a powerful symbol of the growing confidence among Australian scientists." "The achievements of the telescope outlined in Peter Robertson's very readable book will be accessible to a general audience. Readers will be fascinated by the lively account of the personalities, politics and controversy that lay behind the decision to build the Parkes Telescope. Since its completion in 1961, the telescope has contributed much to our knowledge of quasars, pulsars, masers, supernova remnants and giant molecular clouds, as well as many other unusual objects discovered in recent years. During the 1990s the telescope continues to play a part in our quest to understand the origin and nature of the universe, and our place within it."--BOOK JACKET Analysis New South Wales Radioastronomy History New South Wales Parkes (NSW) Radio astronomy Notes Includes index Bibliography Bibliography: pages 343-347 Subject Parkes Radio Telescope -- History Parkes Radio Telescope Parkes radio telescope - -- History Radio astronomy -- Australia -- New South Wales. Radio astronomy -- Australia -- Parkes (N.S.W.) -- History. Radio astronomy -- Australia -- New South Wales -- History. Radio astronomy -- Australia -- Parkes (N.S.W.) Radio telescopes -- Australia -- New South Wales. Radio telescopes -- Australia -- New South Wales -- History. Radio telescopes. LC no. 92003077 ISBN 0521414083

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