The Invisible Universe

The Story of Radio Astronomy
Buch | Softcover
XII, 259 Seiten
2015 | 3rd ed. 2015
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-319-13421-5 (ISBN)

Lese- und Medienproben

The Invisible Universe - Gerrit Verschuur
40,65 inkl. MwSt

Hidden from human view, accessible only to sensitive receivers attached to huge radio telescopes, the invisible universe beyond our senses continues to fascinate and intrigue our imaginations. Closer to home, in the Milky Way galaxy, radio astronomers listen patiently to the ticking of pulsars that tell of star death and states of matter of awesome densities. All of this happens out there in the universe hidden from our eyes, even when aided by the Hubble Space Telescope.

This is the story of radio astronomy, of how radio waves are generated by stars, supernova, quasars, colliding galaxies and by the very beginnings of the universe itself. The author discusses what radio astronomers are doing in the New Mexico desert, in a remote valley in Puerto Rico, and in the green Pocahontas Valley in West Virginia, as well as dozens of other remote sites around the world. With each of these observatories, the scientists collect and analyze their data, "listening" to the radio signals from space in order to learn what, or perhaps who, is out there as well. The author specifically highlights enormous changes that have occurred in the field over the past 50 years, including the political reality of radio astronomy and what that could mean for the future.

Dr. Gerrit Verschuur is the author of eight books, co-author or editor of 3 text books, has written over 80 scientific research articles, and 90 + popular astronomy articles. He lectures widely on astronomical topics, pioneered the study of the interstellar magnetic field and has been active in radio astronomical studies of interstellar matter for over 45 years. Dr. Verschuur published the first ever, full-length technical paper on the radio search for extraterrestrial intelligence in 1973. He has taught in the physics departments of six different universities world-wide, most recently at the University of Memphis.

Preface.- What is Radio Astronomy?.- A Science is Born.- The Radio Sun and Planets.- The Galactic Radio Nebulae.- Radio Waves from the Milky Way.- Interstellar Neutral Hydrogen.- Interstellar Molecules.- Pulsars.- The Galactic Superstars.- Radio Galaxies.- Quasars.- The Grand Unification: Active Galactic Nuclei.- Beyond the Quasars Radio Cosmology.- Radio Telescopes in High Places.- Radio Telescopes: The Future.- China Rising.- On the Radio Astronomical Quest for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.- On Growth and Obsolescence.- What Lies Ahead?- Appendix.- Further Reading.- Index.

"This is the third edition of Verschuur's very readable history of radio astronomy. ... Verschuur (Univ. of Memphis) traces the development of radio astronomy from its birth in 1932 through the technological improvements made based on discoveries during WW II, to large government supported projects, and up to the modern day. ... The well-done color illustrations are abundant, and the appendix of technical terms is useful. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and lower-level undergraduates." (M.-K. Hemenway, Choice, Vol. 52 (12), August, 2015)

Erscheint lt. Verlag 16.2.2015
Reihe/Serie Astronomers' Universe
Zusatzinfo XII, 259 p. 82 illus., 69 illus. in color.
Verlagsort Cham
Sprache englisch
Maße 155 x 235 mm
Gewicht 415 g
Themenwelt Sachbuch/Ratgeber Natur / Technik Weltraum / Astronomie
Naturwissenschaften Physik / Astronomie Astronomie / Astrophysik
Schlagworte ALMA and Star Forming Regions • Galactic Radio Nebulae • Interstellar Hydrogen • Interstellar molecules • Quasar Generated Radio Waves • Radio Astronomy Explained • Radio Signals from Space • SETI and Radio Astronomy • Star Death • The Big Bang
ISBN-10 3-319-13421-3 / 3319134213
ISBN-13 978-3-319-13421-5 / 9783319134215
Zustand Neuware
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