Europe 's Quest for The Universe / / Lodewijk Woltjer.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter EDP Sciences Backlist eBook Package 2000-2013
• VerfasserIn: Woltjer, Lodewijk,
• Place / Publishing House: Les Ulis : : EDP Sciences, , [2006]; ©2006
• Year of Publication: 2006
• Language: English
• Series: Hors collection
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (330 p.)

Some of the more striking results obtained or anticipated on the ground or in space at radio, infrared and visible wavelengths and in X-, gamma-ray and cosmic-rays are covered. The roles of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) are stressed, but national initiatives are also touched upon. Input into the research system in the form of financing and personnel and output as publications are evaluated. The time frame covered extends from around 1980 till about 2020. While this book centers on European developments, comparisons with what others are doing are included. After the war Europe in science had fallen far behind the US. Thanks to European cooperation equality has again been reached. Through ESO's Very Large Telescope and ESA's missions, like the Infrared Space Observatory, X- and gamma- ray satellites, Mars Express and others, Europe is fully and independently present at the forefront. The need to integrate the scientists and engineers from the new EU countries into the overall organization of European science is noted, an integration which ultimately could extend even further eastward. This book addresses a wide audience: astronomers and space scientists, students, politicians involved in science funding, amateur astronomers and the educated public with an interest in the science and technology achievable by European cooperation.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- Preface -- Préface -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- I. The Development of European Astronomy during the 20th Century -- II. ESO, La Silla, the 3.6-m Telescope, Other Telescope Projects in Europe -- III. Origin of the ESO VLT Project; The NTT -- IV. Technological, Financial and Scientific Planning of the VLT -- V. Construction of the VLT -- VI. Sites for Telescopes -- VII. The VLT Observatory: Adaptive Optics, Instruments, Interferometry and Survey Telescopes -- VIII. Ground and Space Based Optical Telescopes -- IX. Radio Astronomy; ALMA and SKA -- X. Europe in Space: ESA’s Horizons 2000 -- XI. European Space Missions: IR, X- and Gamma Rays -- XII. European Space Missions: The Solar System -- XIII. European Space Missions: The Sun and the Heliosphere -- XIV. Astroparticles and Gravitational Waves -- XV. Looking for Planets and Life in the Universe -- XVI. Publications -- XVII. European Astronomy: Researchers and Funding -- XVIII. The Future -- XIX. Epilogue -- Notes -- Acronyms -- Index -- Photo credits