Mt Stromlo Observatory : from bush observatory to the Nobel Prize

345 Pages·2013·33.582 MB·English

by  R S Bhathal, Ralph Sutherland, Harvey R Butcher

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his book tells the story of the Mt Stromlo Observatory in Canberra
which began with W.G. Duffield’s idealism and vision in 1905. The t

Observatory began life as a government department, later becoming an S
optical munitions factory producing gun sights and telescopes during the Second t
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World War, before changing its focus to astrophysics – the new astronomy.
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In the ensuing years programs were introduced to push the Observatory in new
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directions at the international frontiers of astronomy. The astronomers built new,
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better and larger telescopes to unravel the secrets of the universe. There were

controversies, exciting new discoveries and new explanations of phenomena
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that had been discovered. The Observatory and its researchers have contrib- b
uted to determining how old the universe is, participated in the largest survey S
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of galaxies in the universe, and helped to show us that the universal expansion
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is accelerating – research that led to Brian Schmidt and his international team
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being awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics. a
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From Bush Observatory to the Nobel Prize
These and other major discoveries are detailed in this fascinating book about O
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one of the great observatories in the world.
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Ragbir Bhathal, Ralph Sutherland
and Harvey Butcher
FullCOV_MtStromlo_FNL.indd 1 9/3/13 4:01 PM
Mt Stromlo
OB S E RVATORY
It is my earnest desire that we should take our place among the
great observatories of the world.
Geoffrey Duffield.
Mt Stromlo
O B S E RVATO RY
From Bush Observatory to the Nobel Prize
Ragbir Bhathal, Ralph Sutherland
and Harvey Butcher
© Australian National University 2013
All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and
subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
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PUBLISHING for all permission requests.
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Bhathal, R. S., author.
Mt Stromlo Observatory: from bush observatory to the nobel prize/Ragbir Bhathal, Ralph
Sutherland and Harvey Butcher.
9781486300754 (hardback)
9781486300761 (epdf)
9781486300778 (epub)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Mount Stromlo Observatory.
Mount Stromlo Observatory – History.
Astronomical observatories – Australian Capital
Territory – Mount Stromlo.
Astronomy – Australia – History.
Astronomy – Australian Capital Territory – History.
Sutherland, Ralph, author.
Butcher, Harvey R., 1947– author.
522.109947
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Front cover: Mount Stromlo Observatory (ANU/Brian Cooke).
Back cover: An ultra-deep picture of the distant universe taken by the Hubble Space Telescope (NASA).
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Contents
Preface ix
About the authors xi
Acknowledgements xiii
1905–1923
Chapter 1 A beginning in the bush 3
Proposal for a solar observatory 8
Advice on possible observatory sites 13
Lobbying for the Observatory 21
1924–1929
Chapter 2 A bush observatory 27
Building Mount Stromlo Observatory 27
Hiring staff 36
The new field of astrophysics 37
Research activities 41
Community life 45
Take thou the torch 46
1930–1939
Chapter 3 Caretaker 51
Solar Tower and telescope 52
The ionosphere and the ozone layer 58
Atmospheric electricity 58
The future of the Observatory 60
v
MT STROMLO OBSERVATORY: FROM BUSH OBSERVATORY TO THE NOBEL PRIZE
1940–1945
Chapter 4 Second World War: the Observatory becomes an Optical Munitions
Factory 63
The physicists 64
Additional duties 69
Valuable contacts 74
1946–1955
Chapter 5 The change master 77
New directions of research 78
US influence at Mount Stromlo 84
Larger telescopes and better equipment 87
The first bushfire 97
Transfer to ANU 97
Not yet in the first division 98
1956–1966
Chapter 6 The astronomical godfather 103
Populariser and publicist 109
The international graduate school 112
Astronomical programs 114
Telescopes and site testing 116
Bok and the Anglo-Australian Telescope 122
1966–1977
Chapter 7 A life on the dome floor 129
A purpose in life: astronomy at the highest level 132
Galaxy formation 134
Abundance analyses, Magellanic Clouds and quasars 138
Control of the Anglo-Australian Telescope 143
1977–1986
Chapter 8 An astronomical entrepreneur 151
Discoveries and observations 154
The entrepreneur 160
The Advanced Technology Telescope 162
1986–1992
Chapter 9 An instrumentalist and the MACHO project 177
An instrumentalist: his love of engineering 178
MACHOs 180
vi
CONTENTS
Studies of nebulae 186
Supernova 1987A 188
An Australian Large Optical Telescope 190
1993–2002
Chapter 10 Masters of the universe 197
The Hubble Constant 203
The accelerating universe 205
Mapping the universe: the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey 211
Stars and globular clusters 216
International honours for Mount Stromlo astronomers 218
2002–2007
Chapter 11 Bushfires and a new beginning 225
Bushfires destroy the Observatory 227
Finding an astronomical niche 232
Developing instruments for studying the universe 238
Research frontiers 244
Vision for the future 247
2007–2013
Chapter 12 Stromlo Fellows and a Nobel Prize 253
SKA collaboration 257
SkyMapper and WiFeS 261
Giant Magellan Telescope 265
Space research 269
Siding Spring Observatory 270
Research at the highest level 272
A grand vision 279
Chapter 13 Brian Schmidt’s Nobel Lecture 2011: accelerating expansion of the
universe through observations of distant supernovae 283
Introduction 283
Nobel Lecture: Accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of
distant supernovae 285
Directors of Mount Stromlo Observatory 310
Timeline of major events 311
Index 321
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Preface
This volume chronicles a century of astronomy at the Mount Stromlo
Observatory. What began in support of the Federation process in Australia
grew into an important astronomical research centre with a worldwide
reputation for scientific excellence. A history of this evolution is timely as a
contribution to the centenary celebrations of the founding of Canberra, the
national capital city that the Australian public semi-affectionately refers to
as its ‘bush capital’.
During its early history, three forces combined to determine the character
of the Observatory. First, in recognition of the economic and political impor-
tance of accurate, nation-wide time and positional standards, the Australian
Constitution explicitly granted to the Commonwealth Parliament the power
to make laws with respect to astronomical observations. A national observa-
tory would be built in the new Federal Capital Territory, with the Mount
Stromlo site selected for the purpose. The Observatory began its life as a
government department in support of what we today would call
‘nation-building’.
Second, the early 20th century saw dramatic developments in the physi-
cal sciences. In the context of astronomy, the advent of quantum mechanics
would make possible the scientific interpretation of observations of the Sun
and stars. The resulting excitement among scientists was contagious and
would result in an enduring bias towards pure research at Mount Stromlo, a
bias that would distinguish the Observatory from state government observa-
tories in the country. By mid century, the Observatory could merge seam-
lessly with the Australian National University (ANU), its researchers playing
constructive roles in establishing the reputation of that newly founded
institution.
And third, improvements in telecommunications and in affordable travel
were leading to increased internationalisation of science. The geographical
latitude and longitude of Australia would encourage Mount Stromlo research-
ers to complement in useful and important ways observations made from
Europe and the Americas. This international dimension, involving the flow
of both ideas and people, ensured that Observatory staff could and would
ix