Overview
- Presents the "life" of the UKIRT telescope, from design to operation of a pioneering and scientifically highly productive astronomical instrument
- Blends early days of modern infrared astronomy into the adventure story of planning, building and running a pioneering telescope
- With lots of photos showing the early history of UKIRT and astronomers taken in the 1970s and 1980s
- Will fascinate and inspire both professional and amateur astronomers
- Written by a former UKIRT staff astronomer
Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books (PRAXIS)
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About this book
Written by one of the astronomers who 'lived the dream' of working there this book is a restrospectively expanded diary featuring the 'birth and long life' of what was a truely innovative telescope. Based on input received from people involved in its planning, building, operation, and many scientists who observed with it, the author tells this success story of The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT). Conceived in the mid 1970's as a cheap and cheerful light-bucket for the newly emerging field of infrared astronomy it has re-invented itself once a decade to remain at the forefront of infrared astronomy for more than 30 years. Even in 2012 / 2013, when ironically it faced almost certain closure, it remained one of the most scientifically productive telescopes in the world.
Everybody, including amateur and professional astronomers, interested in real astronomy projects will enjoy reading that story and meet (again) the persons who lived it.
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Keywords
Table of contents (23 chapters)
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Front Matter
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
John K. Davies is staff astronomer at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC) in Edinburgh. Before that he was a support astronomer for the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) in Hawaii. He is helping to organize a European Network called OPTICON and also does research on comets and asteroids. Over the years he has also been involved in building and operating astronomical satellites, flight testing fighter aeroplanes and doing chemistry.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Life Story of an Infrared Telescope
Authors: John K. Davies
Series Title: Springer Praxis Books
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23579-0
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental Science, Earth and Environmental Science (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-23578-3Published: 19 February 2016
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-79503-4Published: 30 March 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-23579-0Published: 11 February 2016
Series ISSN: 2945-7475
Series E-ISSN: 2945-7483
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIV, 264
Number of Illustrations: 6 b/w illustrations, 70 illustrations in colour
Topics: Astronomy, Observations and Techniques, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, Popular Science in Astronomy