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Figure 1 National Archives of Australia: A6135, K3/8/79/15, image taken by the AAT in 1979.
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Written in the Stars by Ai Sim
Written in the Stars by Ai Sim
seven years to complete and $15 million between Australia, England, and
to construct.iv By legislation, both the America was reflected through the
British and Australian governments were AATs development alongside other
to split the funding equally.v societal changes.
In conjunction with Australias own
multicultural history, the complex
components and technological British Involvemen6:
fragments of the AAT were drawn
together from different countries such as
Japan and Switzerland.vi The design of The United Kingdom performed
the AAT was also based on the Kitt an integral role in the construction of the
Peak telescope at the Kitt Peak National AAT. The parallels between the AATs
Observatory in the United States.vii The history and Australias own begins here.
collaboration of global technology The relationship between England and
proved successful. Australia was especially represented by
the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board
that was comprised of three British
members and three Australian members
that met twice every year.ix
Written in the Stars by Ai Sim
a tour of Australia and was greeted by States was only rivalled by the Soviet
the then Australian Prime Minister Union. Subsequently, the development
Robert Menzies.xiv The bond between of the AAT based on the Kitt Peak
the United Kingdom and Australia was telescope was an act of trust in
strengthened further whenever a American technology. The decision to
member of the British royal family paid a create a large telescope similar to one in
visit to the country. America could have also been the result
of societal pressure. Countries that were
The British and Australian collaboration armed with the knowledge to develop
on the AAT represented the close greater pieces of technology were seen
alliance between both nations that was as powerful and advanced. Japan was
also influential to the public and their also ahead in astronomical science and
respect for British influence. However, Mitsubishi Electric contributed the mount
the British government decided to of the AAT.
remove its contribution towards the AAT
in the mid 2000s. In 2010, the AAO had However, the more concerning influence
full ownership and responsibility over was the fact that such countries were
the AAT. The AAO replaced the Anglo- also much more attractive to young
Australian Telescope Board as a Australian scientists who required
result.xv modern facilities.xvi The individual who
held this belief was Bart Bok. Bok was a
Dutch-born American astronomer who
after studying extensively at Harvard
University, eventually moved to
Australia with his family where he
became director at Mount Stromlo
Observatory in Canberra. He later
developed a close friendship with
Robert Menzies.xvii
American Influence:
UNESCO in achieving widespread
facilities and programs that were
attractive to young scientists.xviii Boks
strong support of adequate facilitation
American astronomy was the led him to verbally encourage the
driving force behind the interest in space development of the AAT.
and space exploration around the world.
As the first nation to successfully land Boks contribution to observational
on Earths moon in 1969, the reputation astronomy emphasised the strength of
of astronomical sciences in the United Americas global astronomical influence
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Written in the Stars by Ai Sim
Social Changes:
and complete.
Significance:
Although there are women working in
STEM and organisations such as the Part of Australias social,
AAO, the number of women working in technological, and transnational history
scientific and mathematical fields is still has been captured and encapsulated by
significantly lower than their male the development and use of the AAT.
counterparts. The written history so far However, it is important to identify its
about the AAT has not mentioned relevance to individuals living in
women that had directly taken part in its Australia and the rest of the world.
scientific development. However, there Ultimately, the study of space will have
have of course been female some level of impact on people as we
astronomers working in other fields are literally surrounded by it. Following
and/or countries. Prominent American the historical pattern and parallels
astronomer Dorrit Hoffleit who had between the AAT and Australian
worked closely with telescopes is an society, the advancement of the AAT
example. Priscilla Fairfield Bok was
another American astronomer who
alongside her aforementioned husband - 5 -
Written in the Stars by Ai Sim
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Written in the Stars by Ai Sim
Images:
Figure 1: Research - Astronomy and space - Stars and galaxies images from the Anglo-
Australian Telescope Board, 1979, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, in National
Archives of Australia [online database], accessed 3 Oct. 2017.
Figure 5: TITLE: Professor Bart Bok [Director of the Mount Stromlo Observatory Canberra,
Australian Capital Territory] and Mrs Priscilla Bok CATEGORY: Photograph PRINCIPAL
CREDIT: Australian News and Information Bureau, photographer, J Crowther FORMAT: b&w
negative TYPE: cellulose acetate STATUS: preservation material, 1964, National Archives of
Australia, Canberra, in National Archives of Australia [online database], accessed 3 Oct. 2017.
Figure 6: Research - Astronomy and space - Stars and galaxies images from the Anglo-
Australian Telescope Board, 1979, 1979, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, in National
Archives of Australia [online database], accessed 3 Oct. 2017.
Notes:
i
A Brief History, Australian Astronomical Observatory [website],
<https://www.aao.gov.au/about-us/a-brief-history>, para. 1, accessed 26 Sept. 2017.
ii
Donald C. Morton, Recent Developments of the Anglo-Australian Telescope,
Astrophysics and Space Science, 118/1-2 (1986), 31.
iii
Raymond Haynes et al., Explorers of the Southern Sky: A History of Australian
Astronomy, (: Cambridge University Press 1996), 371.
iv
Ben Gascoigne, Katrina Proust and Malcolm Robins, The Creation of the Anglo-
Australian Observatory, (New York: Cambridge University Press 1990), 30.
v
Bill Morrison (Minister for Science), Important Stage of Anglo-Australian Telescope
Completed [press release], 3 Mar. 1973, Parliament of Australia,
<http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media/
pressrel/HPR06000192%22>, accessed 26 Sept. 2017.
vi
Gascoigne, Proust and Robins, op. cit., p. 20.
vii
Malcolm Fraser (Minister for Education and Science), Anglo-Australian Telescope
Agreement [press release], 25 Sept. 1969, Parliament of Australia, - 7 -
Written in the Stars by Ai Sim
<http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media/
pressrel/1617604%22>, accessed 26 Sept. 2017.
viii
Australian Astronomical Observatory, loc. cit.
ix
Gascoigne, Proust and Robins, op. cit., p. 20.
x
Ibid.
xi
Anglo-Australian Telescope, Nature, 218/5140 (1968), 419.
xii
Raymond Haynes et al., op. cit., 385.
xiii
Ibid.
xiv
Australian Astronomical Observatory, loc. cit.
xv
Ibid.
xvi
Raymond Haynes et al., op. cit., 384.
xvii
Ben Gascoigne, 'Bok, Bart Jan (19061983)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of
Biography, Australian National University, <http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/bok-bart-jan-
129/text130>, accessed 26 Sept. 2017.
xviii
Bart J. Bok, Science in International Cooperation, Science, 121/3155 (1955), 844.
xix
Gascoigne, Proust and Robins, op. cit., p. 112.
References:
Primary:
Bok, Bart J., Science in International Cooperation, Science, 121/3155 (1955), 843-847.
Secondary:
Written in the Stars by Ai Sim
Gascoigne, Ben, Proust, Katrina, and Robins, Malcolm, The Creation of the Anglo-
Australian Observatory, (New York: Cambridge University Press 1990).
Gascoigne, Ben, 'Bok, Bart Jan (19061983)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of
Biography, Australian National University, <http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/bok-bart-jan-
129/text130>, accessed 26 Sept. 2017.
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