This open access book on the history of the National Radio Astronomy
Observatory covers the scientific discoveries and technical innovations
of late 20th century radio astronomy with particular attention to the
people and institutions involved. The authors have made extensive use of
the NRAO Archives, which contain an unparalleled collection of documents
pertaining to the history of radio astronomy, including the
institutional records of NRAO as well as the personal papers of many of
the pioneers of U.S. radio astronomy. Technical details and extensive
citations to original sources are given in notes for the more technical
readers, but are not required for an understanding of the body of the
book.
This book is intended for an audience ranging from interested lay
readers to professional researchers studying the scientific, technical,
political, and cultural development of a new science, and how it changed
the course of 20th century astronomy.
With a Foreword by Ron Ekers.