Abstract
In 1933 John Kraus, then at the University of Michigan, attempted to detect the sun by using a searchlight reflector to focus the radio waves. He failed because the receiver was not sensitive enough. This was the first use of a reflector-type radio telescope. At the Serendipity meeting, Kraus stated that meaningful accidental discovery occurs only as the result of “being in the right place with the right equipment doing the right experiment at the right time.” Another noted astronomer, R. Hanbury Brown, added that the person should “not know too much,” otherwise the discovery might not be made!
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
K. Kellermann and B. Sheets (eds.), Serendipitous Discovery in Radio Astronomy, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, WV, 1983.
D. O. Edge and M. J. Mulkay, Astronomy Transformed, Wiley-Interscience, London, 1976.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
(2007). A Science is Born. In: The Invisible Universe. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68360-7_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68360-7_3
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-30816-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-68360-7
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)