AURA and its US National Observatories

A new source of funding for astronomy stemmed from the creation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 1950. Astronomers were quick to take advantage of the opportunities this provided to found new observatories. In this 1997 book, the science and politics of the establishment, funding, construction and operation of the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) are seen from the unique perspective of Frank K. Edmondson, a former member of the AURA board of directors. AURA was asked to manage the Sacramento Peak Observatory (SPO) in 1976, and in 1983 the National Solar Observatory (NSO) was formed by merging the SPO and the KPNO solar programs. In 1981 NASA chose AURA to establish and operate the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). This is a personal account of a period of major innovation in American optical astronomy.

List of contents

Part I. The Beginning; Part II. AURA is Created; Part III. New Directions for AURA; Part IV. Cerro Tololo's Neighbours; Part V. Epilogue.

Summary

In this 1997 book, the history of the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) following the Second World War is explained from the unique perspective of Frank K. Edmondson, former member of the AURA board of directors.

Product details

• Authors: Frank K. Edmondson, Edmondson Frank K.
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 06.03.1997
• EAN: 9780521553452
• ISBN: 978-0-521-55345-2
• Dimensions: 170 mm x 244 mm x 22 mm
• Weight: 810 g
• Illustrations: 15 b/w illus., Raster, nicht spezifiziert
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Astronomy; USA, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, HISTORY / United States / 20th Century, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, United States of America, USA, Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods, SCIENCE / Space Science / Astronomy