Radio astronomy
FEB 01, 1950
Our knowledge of the universe has been gained by measuring electromagnetic radiation falling on the earth. To the light from the stars for the astronomer’s telescopes there has been added radio waves for his receivers. Thus another probe into space is available for examining bodies which are capable of emitting, reflecting, or absorbing radio waves.
DOI: 10.1063/1.3066772
Until recently astronomy was restricted to the visual band of the electromagnetic spectrum, and to wavelengths near to the visual band. Our immense store of astronomical knowledge has been obtained from observations made in a band of about four octaves of the spectrum, although measuring techniques are available for about forty octaves.
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Martin Ryle, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, England.
© 1950 American Institute of Physics
