Cover

Contents

Preface

About the authors

Acknowledgements

1905–1923

Chapter 1 A beginning in the bush

Proposal for a solar observatory

Advice on possible observatory sites

Lobbying for the Observatory

1924–1929

Chapter 2 A bush observatory

Building Mount Stromlo Observatory

Hiring staff

The new field of astrophysics

Research activities

Community life

Take thou the torch

1930–1939

Chapter 3 Caretaker

Solar Tower and telescope

The ionosphere and the ozone layer

Atmospheric electricity

The future of the Observatory

1940–1945

Chapter 4 Second World War: the Observatory becomes an Optical MunitionsFactory

The physicists

Additional duties

Valuable contacts

1946–1955

Chapter 5 The change master

New directions of research

US influence at Mount Stromlo

Larger telescopes and better equipment

The first bushfire

Transfer to ANU

Not yet in the first division

1956–1966

Chapter 6 The astronomical godfather

Populariser and publicist

The international graduate school

Astronomical programs

Telescopes and site testing

Bok and the Anglo-Australian Telescope

1966–1977

Chapter 7 A life on the dome floor

A purpose in life: astronomy at the highest level

Galaxy formation

Abundance analyses, Magellanic Clouds and quasars

Control of the Anglo-Australian Telescope

1977–1986

Chapter 8 An astronomical entrepreneur

Discoveries and observations

The entrepreneur

The Advanced Technology Telescope

1986–1992

Chapter 9 An instrumentalist and the MACHO project

An instrumentalist: his love of engineering

MACHOs

Studies of nebulae

Supernova 1987A

An Australian Large Optical Telescope

1993–2002

Chapter 10 Masters of the universe

The Hubble Constant

The accelerating universe

Mapping the universe: the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey

Stars and globular clusters

International honours for Mount Stromlo astronomers

2002–2007

Chapter 11 Bushfires and a new beginning

Bushfires destroy the Observatory

Finding an astronomical niche

Developing instruments for studying the universe

Research frontiers

Vision for the future

2007–2013

Chapter 12 Stromlo Fellows and a Nobel Prize

SKA collaboration

SkyMapper and WiFeS

Giant Magellan Telescope

Space research

Siding Spring Observatory

Research at the highest level

A grand vision

Chapter 13 Brian Schmidt’s Nobel Lecture 2011: accelerating expansion of theuniverse through observations of distant supernovae

Introduction

Nobel Lecture: Accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations ofdistant supernovae

Directors of Mount Stromlo Observatory

Timeline of major events

Index