Discover
/
Article

Ultraviolet, optical and infrared astronomy

NOV 01, 1982
A 15‐m telescope on the ground and a far‐ultraviolet spectrograph and 10‐m infrared telescope in orbit would complement projects already planned and give us totally new insight into the nature of the universe.

DOI: 10.1063/1.2914847

E. Joseph Wampler

While it is possible to trace the history of ultraviolet, optical and infrared astronomy to an era before that of the pre‐Christian Greek astronomers at Alexandria, the field is not as static as this maturity might suggest. The flowering of space astronomy and the orders‐of‐magnitude improvement in detector technology give us exploratory capabilities that are as revolutionary as the invention of the telescope. Decades from now the 1970s will be remembered as a turning point in our understanding of the universe.

References

  1. 1. Astronomy Survey Committee, Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980’s. Volume 1: Report of the Astronomy Survey Committee, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. (1982).

More about the Authors

E. Joseph Wampler. University of California, Santa Cruz.

This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1982_11.jpeg

Volume 35, Number 11

Related content
/
Article
Technical knowledge and skills are only some of the considerations that managers have when hiring physical scientists. Soft skills, in particular communication, are also high on the list.
/
Article
Professional societies can foster a sense of belonging and offer early-career scientists opportunities to give back to their community.
/
Article
Interviews offer a glimpse of how physicists get into—and thrive in—myriad nonacademic careers.
/
Article
Research exchanges between US and Soviet scientists during the second half of the 20th century may be instructive for navigating today’s debates on scientific collaboration.
/
Article
The Eisenhower administration dismissed the director of the National Bureau of Standards in 1953. Suspecting political interference with the agency’s research, scientists fought back—and won.
/
Article
Alternative undergraduate physics courses expand access to students and address socioeconomic barriers that prevent many of them from entering physics and engineering fields. The courses also help all students develop quantitative skills.

Get PT in your inbox

Physics Today - The Week in Physics

The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.

Physics Today - Table of Contents
Physics Today - Whitepapers & Webinars
By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.