The Carnegie Image Tube Committee and the Development of Electronic Imaging Devices in Astronomy, 1953-1976
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Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, 1940-1973
http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf2p300278 No online items Inventory of the Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, 1940-1973 Processed by Ronald S. Brashear; machine-readable finding aid created by Gabriela A. Montoya Manuscripts Department The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2203 Fax: (626) 449-5720 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554 © 1998 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection Inventory of the Ira Sprague 1 Bowen Papers, 1940-1973 Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection Inventory of the Ira Sprague Bowen Paper, 1940-1973 The Huntington Library San Marino, California Contact Information Manuscripts Department The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2203 Fax: (626) 449-5720 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554 Processed by: Ronald S. Brashear Encoded by: Gabriela A. Montoya © 1998 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Title: Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, Date (inclusive): 1940-1973 Creator: Bowen, Ira Sprague Extent: Approximately 29,000 pieces in 88 boxes Repository: The Huntington Library San Marino, California 91108 Language: English. Provenance Placed on permanent deposit in the Huntington Library by the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection. This was done in 1989 as part of a letter of agreement (dated November 5, 1987) between the Huntington and the Carnegie Observatories. The papers have yet to be officially accessioned. Cataloging of the papers was completed in 1989 prior to their transfer to the Huntington. -
Illinois—Where Astronomical Photometry Grew Up
Beaman and Svec, JAAVSO Volume 40, 2012 141 Illinois—Where Astronomical Photometry Grew Up Barry B. Beaman 6804 Alvina Road, Rockford, IL 61101; [email protected] Michael T. Svec Furman University, Department of Education, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville SC 29613; Internet: [email protected] Presented at the 100th Annual Meeting of the AAVSO, October 7, 2011; received January 21, 2012; revised February 2, 2012; accepted February 6, 2012 Abstract In 1903 Dr. Joel Stebbins joined the University of Illinois faculty as an astronomy instructor and Director of the University of Illinois Observatory. In 1905 he and F. C. Brown began experimenting with selenium sell photometry and developed the equipment and many of the photometric practices used then. Those practices formed the foundation on which present day photometry processes are based. This paper will trace the history of Stebbins’ career and his development of photoelectric photometry from 1903 to 1922. This story explains how Stebbins’ wife, May, caused a change in astronomical observing that continues today. 1. Introduction The prairies of central Illinois may seem an unlikely place to begin a photometric revolution. Illinois is a flat land state with only about 100 clear nights per year, the average elevation is only 600 feet above sea level, and the highest point is only at 1,500 feet. Yet, Illinois has produced its share of prominent and innovative astronomers. George Ellery Hale built his Kenwood Observatory in the heart of Chicago. Edwin Hubble spent his teen years in the Chicago suburbs and was educated at University of Chicago. Grote Reber built the World’s first parabolic-steerable radio telescope. -
Variable Star Classification and Light Curves Manual
Variable Star Classification and Light Curves An AAVSO course for the Carolyn Hurless Online Institute for Continuing Education in Astronomy (CHOICE) This is copyrighted material meant only for official enrollees in this online course. Do not share this document with others. Please do not quote from it without prior permission from the AAVSO. Table of Contents Course Description and Requirements for Completion Chapter One- 1. Introduction . What are variable stars? . The first known variable stars 2. Variable Star Names . Constellation names . Greek letters (Bayer letters) . GCVS naming scheme . Other naming conventions . Naming variable star types 3. The Main Types of variability Extrinsic . Eclipsing . Rotating . Microlensing Intrinsic . Pulsating . Eruptive . Cataclysmic . X-Ray 4. The Variability Tree Chapter Two- 1. Rotating Variables . The Sun . BY Dra stars . RS CVn stars . Rotating ellipsoidal variables 2. Eclipsing Variables . EA . EB . EW . EP . Roche Lobes 1 Chapter Three- 1. Pulsating Variables . Classical Cepheids . Type II Cepheids . RV Tau stars . Delta Sct stars . RR Lyr stars . Miras . Semi-regular stars 2. Eruptive Variables . Young Stellar Objects . T Tau stars . FUOrs . EXOrs . UXOrs . UV Cet stars . Gamma Cas stars . S Dor stars . R CrB stars Chapter Four- 1. Cataclysmic Variables . Dwarf Novae . Novae . Recurrent Novae . Magnetic CVs . Symbiotic Variables . Supernovae 2. Other Variables . Gamma-Ray Bursters . Active Galactic Nuclei 2 Course Description and Requirements for Completion This course is an overview of the types of variable stars most commonly observed by AAVSO observers. We discuss the physical processes behind what makes each type variable and how this is demonstrated in their light curves. Variable star names and nomenclature are placed in a historical context to aid in understanding today’s classification scheme. -
Investigations of the Interstellar Medium at Washburn Observatory, 1930-58
Journal of Astronomical History andheritage 7(2):85-94 2004 Investigations of the interstellar medium at Washburn Observatory, 1930-58 David S Liebl* University of Wisconsin- College of Engineering, 432 North Lake Street, Rm. 311, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA E-mail: [email protected] Christopher Fluke Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinbume University ofTeclmo/ogy, PO Box 218, Victoria 3122, Australia E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Behveen 1930 and 1958, the Washburn Observatory of the University of Wisconsin-Madison was home to pioneering photometric research into the interstellar medium by Joel Stebbins and Albert Whitford. Between 1933 and 1941, Stebbins and Whitford published seminal research on the photometry of stellar reddening, using the Washburn 15-inch refractor and the 60- and 100-inch reflectors at Mount Wilson Observatory. Many factors were responsible for the Washburn Observatory's pre-eminence in this area. l11is paper reviews their research on interstellar dust during the years 1922 58, the observational teclmology and scientific methods that were developed at the Washburn Observatory during that time and the scientific discoveries that originated there. We discuss the factors that enabled WashburnObservatory to become a leader in photometry during the first half of the twentieth century. We also draw on the recollections of past and present Washburn Observatory scientists1 to understand how Washburn's standing led to a subsequent programme of research into the interstellar medium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The resulting portrayal of Washburn Observatory provides insights into the evolution of astronomical research in America, from the beginning of the hventieth cenh1ry until today. -
Lyman Spitzer 1914–1997
OBITUARIES ried out sonar analysis at Columbia University Lyman Spitzer as a guide to anti-submarine tactics. After the Deaths of Fellows 1914–1997 war, he went back briefly to Yale and in 1947 he was invited to succeed Russell as Professor of Prof. J Wdowczyk yman Spitzer died on 31 March 1997 at Astronomy at Princeton. He accepted, and held Born 28 July 1935 the age of 82. He had a remarkably pro- the post until his formal retirement in 1982. Elected 11 April 1980 Lductive career that spanned quite diverse At Princeton he developed his theories of the Died 6 September 1996 areas of activity and led him to become one of interstellar medium, and the application of his Dr C P Gopalaraman the most influential American scientists of his great knowledge and understanding of physics Born 1 July 1938 time. His personal theoretical contributions to raised the subject to an exciting level. He Elected 13 May 1994 interstellar astronomy and to plasma physics quickly realized that observations of the inter- Died 3 September 1997 quickly established him as a world leader in each stellar gas were most important in the ultra- Mr S Bradford Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/astrogeo/article/38/6/36/194930 by guest on 24 September 2021 field. He was a pioneer in the opening up of violet where most of the resonance lines of the Born 28 February 1912 common elements lay. This led to a proposal Elected 14 April 1961 for an ultraviolet observatory satellite designed Died ? specifically to study the interstellar medium. -
Introduction to Astronomical Photometry, Second Edition
This page intentionally left blank Introduction to Astronomical Photometry, Second Edition Completely updated, this Second Edition gives a broad review of astronomical photometry to provide an understanding of astrophysics from a data-based perspective. It explains the underlying principles of the instruments used, and the applications and inferences derived from measurements. Each chapter has been fully revised to account for the latest developments, including the use of CCDs. Highly illustrated, this book provides an overview and historical background of the subject before reviewing the main themes within astronomical photometry. The central chapters focus on the practical design of the instruments and methodology used. The book concludes by discussing specialized topics in stellar astronomy, concentrating on the information that can be derived from the analysis of the light curves of variable stars and close binary systems. This new edition includes numerous bibliographic notes and a glossary of terms. It is ideal for graduate students, academic researchers and advanced amateurs interested in practical and observational astronomy. Edwin Budding is a research fellow at the Carter Observatory, New Zealand, and a visiting professor at the Çanakkale University, Turkey. Osman Demircan is Director of the Ulupınar Observatory of Çanakkale University, Turkey. Cambridge Observing Handbooks for Research Astronomers Today’s professional astronomers must be able to adapt to use telescopes and interpret data at all wavelengths. This series is designed to provide them with a collection of concise, self-contained handbooks, which covers the basic principles peculiar to observing in a particular spectral region, or to using a special technique or type of instrument. The books can be used as an introduction to the subject and as a handy reference for use at the telescope, or in the office. -
Merle A. Tuve
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES M E R L E A N T O N Y T UVE 1901—1982 A Biographical Memoir by P H ILI P H . AbELSON Any opinions expressed in this memoir are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academy of Sciences. Biographical Memoir COPYRIGHT 1996 NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS WASHINGTON D.C. MERLE ANTONY TUVE June 27, 1901–May 20, 1982 BY PHILIP H. ABELSON ERLE ANTONY TUVE WAS a leading scientist of his times. MHe joined with Gregory Breit in the first use of pulsed radio waves in the measurement of layers in the ionosphere. Together with Lawrence R. Hafstad and Norman P. Heydenburg he made the first and definitive measurements of the proton-proton force at nuclear distances. During World War II he led in the development of the proximity fuze that stopped the buzz bomb attack on London, played a crucial part in the Battle of the Bulge, and enabled naval ships to ward off Japanese aircraft in the western Pacific. Following World War II he served for twenty years as director of the Carnegie Institution of Washington’s Department of Ter- restrial Magnetism, where, in addition to supporting a mul- tifaceted program of research, he personally made impor- tant contributions to experimental seismology, radio astronomy, and optical astronomy. Tuve was a dreamer and an achiever, but he was more than that. He was a man of conscience and ideals. Throughout his life he remained a scientist whose primary motivation was the search for knowledge but a person whose zeal was tempered by a regard for the aspirations of other humans. -
The Great Melbourne Telescope a Result of a Bushfire in 2003
BHATHAL: GREAT MELBOURNE TELESCOPE BHATHAL: GREAT MELBOURNE TELESCOPE he Great Melbourne Telescope (figure 1) has probably had the most eventful his- Ttory of any in the world, from its incep- tion in London in the 1850s to its final demise as The Great Melbourne Telescope a result of a bushfire in 2003. It was conceived as a powerful instrument for studying the south- ern hemisphere, but problems in manufacture Ragbir Bhathal traces the 1: The Great Melbourne Telescope, circa 1880. and operation led to many years of wrangling chequered history of the The astronomer is probably Joseph Turner, across the continents, after which it was over- GMT observer from 1873–83. (Museum Victoria) taken by new technology. Yet after it moved to Great Melbourne Telescope Mount Stromlo near Canberra in the 1940s, in Australia, from initial the venerable instrument was rejuvenated and disappointment to recent played a key part in 20th-century astronomy, in research success. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/astrogeo/article-abstract/55/3/3.16/239058 by guest on 26 November 2019 the search for MACHOs. It all began with an ambitious idea among the elite of UK science and astronomy, of designing and publicity. However, the telescope failed to and building a large southern telescope to be live up to expectations (Hyde 1987). The prob- located at the Cape of Good Hope, to observe lems were plentiful: the mirror had a mealy and make drawings of the southern nebulae appearance because the wrong solvent had been so that they could be compared with Sir John used to remove the shellac from its surface, and Herschel’s 1830s sketches and look for differ- the eye-stops for the telescope eyepieces had ences. -
Biography of Horace Welcome Babcock
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES H O R ACE W ELCOME B A B COC K 1 9 1 2 — 2 0 0 3 A Biographical Memoir by GEO R G E W . P R ESTON Any opinions expressed in this memoir are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academy of Sciences. Biographical Memoir COPYRIGHT 2007 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WASHINGTON, D.C. Photograph by Mount Wilson and Los Campanas Observatories HORACE WELCOME BABCOCK September 13, 1912−August 29, 2003 BY GEORGE W . P RESTON ORACE BABCOCK’S CAREER at the Mount Wilson and Palomar H(later, Hale) Observatories spanned more than three decades. During the first 18 years, from 1946 to 1964, he pioneered the measurement of magnetic fields in stars more massive than the sun, produced a famously successful model of the 22-year cycle of solar activity, and invented important instruments and techniques that are employed throughout the world to this day. Upon assuming the directorship of the observatories, he devoted his last 14 years to creating one of the world’s premier astronomical observatories at Las Campanas in the foothills of the Chilean Andes. CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION Horace Babcock was born in Pasadena, California, the only child of Harold and Mary Babcock. Harold met Horace’s mother, Mary Henderson, in Berkeley during his student days at the College of Electrical Engineering, University of California. After brief appointments as a laboratory assis- tant at the National Bureau of Standards in 1906 and as a physics teacher at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1907, Horace’s father was invited by George Ellery Hale in 1908 to join the staff of the Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO), where he remained for the rest of his career. -
JRASC, October 2002 Issue (PDF)
Publications and Products of October/octobre 2002 Volume/volume 96 Number/numéro 5 [696] The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Observer’s Calendar — 2003 This calendar was created by members of the RASC. All photographs were taken by amateur astronomers using ordinary camera lenses and small telescopes and represent a wide spectrum of objects. An informative caption accompanies every photograph. The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Le Journal de la Société royale d’astronomie du Canada It is designed with the observer in mind and contains comprehensive astronomical data such as daily Moon rise and set times, significant lunar and planetary conjunctions, eclipses, and meteor showers. The 1998, 1999, and 2000 editions each won the Best Calendar Award from the Ontario Printing and Imaging Association (designed and produced by Rajiv Gupta). Price: $15.95 (members); $17.95 (non-members) (includes postage and handling; add GST for Canadian orders) The Beginner’s Observing Guide This guide is for anyone with little or no experience in observing the night sky. Large, easy to read star maps are provided to acquaint the reader with the constellations and bright stars. Basic information on observing the Moon, planets and eclipses through the year 2005 is provided. There is also a special section to help Scouts, Cubs, Guides, and Brownies achieve their respective astronomy badges. Written by Leo Enright (160 pages of information in a soft-cover book with otabinding that allows the book to lie flat). Price: $15 (includes taxes, postage and handling) Looking Up: A History of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Published to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the first meeting of the Toronto Astronomical Club, “Looking Up — A History of the RASC” is an excellent overall history of Canada’s national astronomy organization. -
The History and Impact of the CNO Cycles in Nuclear Astrophysics
Phys. Perspect. 20 (2018) 124–158 Ó 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 1422-6944/18/010124-35 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-018-0216-0 Physics in Perspective The History and Impact of the CNO Cycles in Nuclear Astrophysics Michael Wiescher* The carbon cycle, or Bethe-Weizsa¨cker cycle, plays an important role in astrophysics as one of the most important energy sources for quiescent and explosive hydrogen burning in stars. This paper presents the intellectual and historical background of the idea of the correlation between stellar energy production and the synthesis of the chemical elements in stars on the example of this cycle. In particular, it addresses the contributions of Carl Friedrich von Weizsa¨cker and Hans Bethe, who provided the first predictions of the carbon cycle. Further, the experimental verification of the predicted process as it developed over the following decades is discussed, as well as the extension of the initial carbon cycle to the carbon- nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) multi-cycles and the hot CNO cycles. This development emerged from the detailed experimental studies of the associated nuclear reactions over more than seven decades. Finally, the impact of the experimental and theoretical results on our present understanding of hydrogen burning in different stellar environments is presented, as well as the impact on our understanding of the chemical evolution of our universe. Key words: Carl Friedrich von Weizsa¨cker; Hans Bethe; Carbon cycle; CNO cycle. Introduction The energy source of the sun and all other stars became a topic of great interests in the physics community in the second half of the nineteenth century. -
Nuclear Navy United States Atomic Energy Commission Historical Advisory Committee
Nuclear Navy United States Atomic Energy Commission Historical Advisory Committee Chairman, Alfred D. Chandler, Jr. Harvard University John T. Conway Consolidated Edison Company Lauchlin M. Currie Carmel, California A. Hunter Dupree Brown University Ernest R. May Harvard University Robert P. Multhauf Smithsonian Institution Nuclear Navy 1946-1962 Richard G. Hewlett and Francis Duncan The University of Chicago Press Chicago and London The University of Chicago Press Chicago 60637 The University of Chicago Press Ltd., London Published 1974 Printed in the United States of America International Standard Book Number: 0-226-33219-5 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 74-5726 RICHARD G. HEWLETT is chief historian of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission. He is coauthor, with Oscar E. Anderson, Jr., of The New World, 1939-1946 and, with Francis Duncan, of Atomic Shield, 1947-1952. FRANCIS DUNCAN is assistant historian of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. He is the coauthor of Atomic Shield. [1974] VA Contents Illustrations vii Foreword ix Preface xi 1 2 3 4 Control The The The of the Idea Question of Structure Sea and the Leadership of Responsi- 1 Challenge 52 bility 15 88 5 6 7 8 Emerging Prototypes Toward Nuclear Patterns of and a Nuclear Power Technical Submarines Fleet Beyond Management 153 194 the Navy 121 225 9 10 11 12 Propulsion Building Fleet The for the the Nuclear Operation Measure Fleet Fleet and of Accom- 258 297 Maintenance plishment 340 377 Appendix 1: Table of Organization Abbreviations 404 393 Notes 405 Appendix 2: Construction of the Sources 453 Nuclear Navy 399 Index 461 Appendix 3: Financial Data 402 V Illustrations Charts 8.