But It Was Fun: The First Forty Years of Radio Astronomy in Green Bank Paperback – August 2, 2024

This is the story of the founding and early years of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, told through recollections, anecdotes, early memos and reports, and scientific papers. It includes the proceedings of symposia held in 1987 and 1995 to celebrate anniversaries of the 300 Foot and 140 Foot Telescopes.The story begins with the decision in 1955 to form a National Center for radio astronomy, and continues through the early struggles at the site in the Allgheny Mountains of West Virginia. It describes the difficulties in constructing and operating the unique instruments for visitors from arund the world, and the spectacular collapse of the largest one, the 300 Foot Telescope.From the many diverse contributions in the “scrapbook,” a picture emerges of hard work under difficult circumstances by the “overabundance of interesting people" whose creativity and persistence shaped the Observatory. Read more