This open access book on the history of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory covers the scientific discoveries and technical innovations of late 20th century radio astronomy with particular attention to the people and institutions involved. The authors have made extensive use of the NRAO Archives, which contain an unparalleled collection of documents pertaining to the history of radio astronomy, including the institutional records of NRAO as well as the personal papers of many of the pioneers of U.S. radio astronomy. Technical details and extensive citations to original sources are given in notes for the more technical readers, but are not required for an understanding of the body of the book. This book is intended for an audience ranging from interested lay readers to professional researchers studying the scientific, technical, political, and cultural development of a new science, and how it changed the course of 20th century astronomy.
With a Foreword by Ron Ekers.

Introduces the people and politics involved in the development of radio astronomy Demonstrates how technological developments led to new discoveries that have changed our understanding of what matter is in the universe Includes content based on original documents not found in any other book

Autorentext

K. I. Kellermann has 60 years of experience in radio astronomy including more than 50 years at NRAO. He is the former Chair of the IAU Historical Radio Astronomy Working Group, and editor of several books on the history of radio astronomy.

E. N. Bouton has been at NRAO for more than 40 years, first as Librarian and for the last 16 years as the Archivist.

S. S. Brandt is an historian of science who has worked with the NRAO Archives for the past eight years.

Inhalt
A New Window on the Universe.- The Post War Explosion in Radio Astronomy: The US Falls Behind.- A New Era in Radio Astronomy.- Growing Pains.- Is Anyone Out There?.- The Bar Is Open.- The Very Large Array.- VLBI and the Very Long Baseline Array.- The Largest Feasible Steerable Telescope.- Exploring the Millimeter Sky.- NRAO and Radio Astronomy in the 21st Century.- Appendix A.- Appendix B.- Index.