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The astronomical legacy of Australian physicist Ruby Payne-Scott

The CSIRO radio telescope at Parkes NSW. The dish of the telescope is just visible through eucalyptus trees against a bright blue sky with a few white clouds.

Radio astronomy, which lets us explore space objects far and near, is an exciting field that tells us more and more about our universe.

It originated in the 1940s and much of it in Australia – thanks to a group of researchers from the University of Sydney, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, now CSIRO.

One of that group was Ruby Payne-Scott, a determined and bold physicist who not only helped shape the future of radio astronomy, but also broke new ground for women researchers.

Dr Elizabeth Mahoney, a radio astronomer at CSIRO, joined us on the Thursday Daily to talk about Ruby Payne-Scott’s impact.

 

Like to read more?

Ruby Scott-Payne’s legacy, CSIRO News: Wavelengths ahead: Ruby Payne-Scott’s astronomical legacy

The beginnings of radio astronomy in Australia, CSIROpedia: Radar and the birth of radio astronomy in Australia at Collaroy Plateau

New telescopes allow astronomers to study the Universe like never before, CSIRO News: Five ways we’re helping build the world’s largest radio telescopes

 

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