Book: The Jewel on the Mountaintop — The European Southern Observatory through Fifty Years

This book authored by ESO senior advisor Claus Madsen is 560 action-packed pages of ESO history and dramatic stories about the people behind the organisation. The ultimate historical book about ESO, but also about a truly remarkable European success story in research. With 150 photos and illustrations. Produced especially for ESO's 50th anniversary.

• 560 pages
• Hardcover
• 17.5 x 24.5 cm
• ~150 historical photos
• Shrinkwrapped

Expected shipment date: 15 September 2012

Stores

• ESO Shop
• Wiley

Reviews

"Anniversary publications can be overly dry or self-puffing, but this one isn't — it's a weighty yet wonderfully written account of the effort to restore the prowess of European astronomy after World War II. A deeply impressive tale." (Hazel Muir, Sky at Night Magazine, February 2013 — 5 Stars out of 5 received)

"This living history of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) takes the reader on a journey from the first telescopes to towards future projects. It becomes clear how much our view of the universe has changed." (Physik Journal 11, November 2012, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

"Madsen's book is an essential work for anyone interested in the history and inner workings of the world's most productive astronomical observatory." (spacepage.be, September 2012, in Dutch)

"Madsen's book is an essential work for anyone interested in the history and inner workings of the world's most productive astronomical observatory." (Philip Corneille for magazines Heelal and Guidestar, in Dutch)