1. The development of radio astronomy (late 1900's)

Research during World War II (1939-1945) led to the development of radar, which eventually helped bring about a branch of astronomy known as radio astronomy. This field deals with the reception of radio signals from a variety of celestial objects, and it led to the discovery and exploration of quasars.

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Jay M. Pasachoff is the Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Hopkins Observatory at Williams College. His Top 10 list largely relates major world events to a number of important developments in astronomy. He points to the establishment of the Nobel Prizes as an event that helped spark public interest in science.

1.

The development of radio astronomy (late 1900's)
2. The collapse of the Soviet Union (1991)
3. Dropping the atomic bomb in World War II (1945)
4.

The launch of Sputnik I by the Soviet Union (1957)
5. Introduction of the Nobel Prizes (1901)
6. Albert Einstein's theories of relativity (early 1900's)
7. Hitler's persecution of the Jews (1930's and 1940"s)
8. Discovery of the transistor and the rise of electronics (middle to late 1900's)
9. The development of computers (middle to late 1900's))
10. The invention of the airplane (1903)