1,721,075 research outputs found
Dr Elizabeth Alexander: first female radio astronomer
No full textDuring March–April 1945, solar radio emission was detected at 200 MHz by operators of a Royal New Zealand Air Force radar unit located on Norfolk Island. Initially dubbed the ‘Norfolk Island Effect’, this anomalous radiation was investigated throughout 1945 by British-born Elizabeth Alexander, head of the Operational Research Section of the Radio Development Laboratory in New Zealand. Alexander prepared a number of reports on this work, and in early 1946 she published a short paper in the newly-launched journal, Radio & Electronics. A geologist by training, Elizabeth Alexander happened to be in the right place at the right time, and unwittingly became the first woman in the world to work in the field that would later become known as radio astronomy. Her research also led to further solar radio astronomy projects in New Zealand in the immediate post-war year, and in part was responsible for the launch of the radio astronomy program at the Division of Radiophysics, CSIRO, in Sydney
The rise and fall of the Chris Cross: a pioneering Australian radio telescope
Full text linkThe Chris Cross was the world's first cross-grating interferometer and the first radio telescope to provide a two-dimensional daily map of the Sun. It was constructed by the CSIRO's Division of Radiophysics at Fleurs, near Sydney, in 1957, and operated at a frequency of 1420 MHz. In 1959, an I8-m parabolic antenna was installed adjacent to the Chris Cross array, fanning the world's first high resolution
compound interferometer, and this was used to survey discrete radio sources. During the 19705 the Fleurs Synthesis Telescope (FST) was developed by adding six stand-alone 13.7-m parabolic antennas. When used in conjunction with the Chris Cross, this was one of the most powerful radio telescopes in the world, and it was used for detailed studies of large radio galaxies, supernova
remnants and emission nebulae. The FST was closed down in 1988, and antennas in the array continued to rust. Although a number of individual antennas were refurbished in 1991, the very survival of remaining elements of this pioneering radio telescope is in jeopardy. Astronomers need to be convinced that just like historically-important optical telescopes, early radio telescopes that made major contributions to astronomy need to be preserved for posterity
Early Australian observations of historical supernova remnants at radio wavelengths
No full textStephenson and Green (2002) identify just five definite historical supernovae (AD 1006, 1054, 1181, 1572 and 1604), and the first radio observations of two of these (AD 1006 and 1054) were made by Australian scientists. In this paper we discuss the discovery of the Taurus-A radio source in 1947, and subsequent Australian and New Zealand observations that led to its association with the Crab Nebula and the AD 1054 supernova. In the process, we describe the formative state of radio astronomy at this time. We also discuss the Mills Cross radio telescope, the initial sky survey that led to the first radio detection of the AD 1006 supernova remnant, and subsequent observations made with the Parkes radio Telescope, Molonglo Cross, Fleurs Synthesis Telescope and the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope. Finally, we briefly review observations of the AD 1604 supernova remnant with the Parkes Radio Telescope and Culgoora Circular Array, along with Parkes and Molonglo observations of G315.4-2.3, the supernova remnant thought most likely to be associated with the supernova of AD 185
The Lick Observatory solar eclipse expedition to Padang (Indonesia) in 1901
No full textBetween 1889 and 1932 the Lick Observatory maintained a vibrant solar research program and sent a succession of expeditions to the far corners of the globe in order to observe solar eclipses and add to our knowledge of the solar corona and the chromosphere. These expeditions were major logistical exercises that relied mainly on visual, photographic and spectroscopic observations during the brief moments of totality.
In this paper we focus on the Lick Observatory’s expedition to Padang, Sumatra, to observe the 17-18 May 1901 solar eclipse, and after briefly discussing the personnel, their equipment and their observations we view this very successful expedition in the context of the overall development of astronomy in Indonesia
The Lick Observatory solar eclipse expedition to Jeur (India) in 1898
No full textBetween 1889 and 1932 the Lick Observatory maintained a vibrant solar research program and sent a succession of expeditions to the far corners of the glove in order to observe solar eclipses and add to our knowledge of the solar corona and the chromosphere. These expeditions were major logistical exercises that relied mainly on visual, photographic and spectroscopic observations during the brief moments of totality.
In this paper we focus on the Lick Observatory’s expedition to Jeur, India, arranged to observe the 22 January 1898 total solar eclipse, and discuss the personnel, their equipment and their observations. We then briefly view this very successful expedition in the context of the overall development of solar astronomy in India, which culminated in the founding of the Kodaikanal Observatory
Radiophysics field stations and the early development of radio astronomy
No full textDuring the period 1946–1961 Australia was one of the world’s leading nations in radio astronomy and played a key role in its development. Much of the research was carried out at a number of different field stations and associated remote sites situated in or near Sydney which were maintained by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s Division of Radiophysics. The best-known of these were Dover Heights, Dapto, Fleurs, Hornsby Valley and Potts Hill. At these and other field stations a succession of innovative radio telescopes was erected, and these were used by a band of young scientists—mainly men with engineering qualifications—to address a wide range of research issues, often with outstanding success
Teaching history of astronomy in an internet Masters degree
No full textIn 1998 the University of Western Sydney, Nepean, in Australia began an Internet-based Masters in Astronomy degree, which included a compulsory subject on "Topics in the History of Astronomy". In this paper we document the nature of this subject as presented in 2001. We also discuss special problems associated with Internet graduate astronomy programs, and announce new Internet Masters and Doctoral degrees in astronomy offered by James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
The ATNF Historic Photographic Archive: documenting the history of Australian radio astronomy
No full textThe ATNF Historic Photographic Archive is a collection of negatives, prints and 35mm slides that provide a pictorial record of the development of Australian radio astronomy. This unique historic resource, now under the stewardship of the Australia Telescope National Facility in Sydney, is undergoing systematic curation with a view to realising its full research, educational and promotional potential. This paper briefly describes the contents of the collection before discussing its rehousing and systematic documentation and
digitisation
Άbdul-Ramān al-Şūfī and his Book of the Fixed Stars: a journey of re-discovery
No full textThe Book of the Fixed Stars was written by the Persian astronomer Άbdul-Ramān al-Şūfī around AD 964, and is one of the most important medieval Arabic treatises on astronomy. al-Şūfī's work contains an extensive star catalog as well as detailed star charts for the 48 classical constellations, and draws on material in Ptolemy's Almagest. At present no English translation of al-Şūfī's treatise exists. This paper summarizes a detailed study by the first author for a Ph.D. degree in the Center of Astronomy at James Cook University (Townsville, Australia) which will include for the first time a complete English translation of the main parts of al-Şūfī's major work.
This paper includes a brief biography of al-Şūfī, along with information on the extant manuscripts of the Book of the Fixed Stars, the structure of the book and star catalogue, and the star maps and charts. A major finding which we highlight in this paper is al-Şūfī's stellar magnitude estimates which were based upon a unique three-step intermediate magnitude system that he developed. al-Şūfī also identified and commented on more than one hundred new stars that were not listed in the Almagest or other early star catalogs. al-Şūfī's contribution to astronomy reverberated throughout history, extending to recent times
A retrospective view of Australian solar radio astronomy 1945–1960
No full textThe Solar Radio Astronomy Group within the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's Division of Radiophysics established an international reputation for solar research by the early 1960s. This paper examines some of the reasons for this success under four main headings: (1) Serendipity and timing; (2) Innovative design; (3) Support and funding; (4) Early outstanding scientific results. The achievements are compared chronologically with other significant contributions from elsewhere
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