Science Explorer Interactive view Map

History and Developments in Astronomy

History and Developments in Astronomy is a research topic within Astronomy and Astrophysics. Science Explorer counts 22k research works in it since 1950. 5.9% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.

This cluster of papers covers the historical development and impact of astronomy, with a focus on radio astronomy, transits of Venus, high-resolution imaging, spectroscopy, solar observations, early astronomical instruments, scientific expeditions, astronomical discoveries, cultural impact, and historical figures in the field. It provides insights into the evolution of astronomical techniques and their influence on society and scientific progress.

  • Radio Astronomy
  • Transits of Venus
  • High-Resolution Imaging
  • Spectroscopy
  • Solar Observations
  • Early Astronomical Instruments
  • Scientific Expeditions
  • Astronomical Discoveries
  • Cultural Impact
  • Historical Figures
Research works
22k
fractional, since 1950
In the world top 10%
1.3k
per year above
Top-10% rate
5.9%
share of its works in the world top 10%
Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
-12%
the tick is no change

Which countries lead History and Developments in Astronomy research?

By volume, the United States and the United Kingdom publish the most (600 and 183 works in 2022–2025).

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 United States 600 works
  2. 2 United Kingdom 183 works
  3. 3 France 151 works
  4. 4 Italy 146 works
  5. 5 Germany 117 works
  6. 6 Australia 87 works
  7. 7 Russia 68 works
  8. 8 Brazil 58 works
  9. 9 Canada 57 works
  10. 10 India 48 works

How concentrated that is

The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.

United States: 39.6%United Kingdom: 12.1%France: 10.0%Italy: 9.6%6 others listed: 28.7%40%largest
United States600 · 39.6%United Kingdom183 · 12.1%France151 · 10.0%Italy146 · 9.6%6 others listed435 · 28.7%

Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.

Which institutions lead History and Developments in Astronomy research?

By volume in 2022–2025, Ca' Foscari University of Venice publishes the most History and Developments in Astronomy research, followed by University of Cambridge and University of Milan.

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Ca' Foscari University of VeniceItaly 40 works
  2. 2 University of CambridgeUnited Kingdom 13 works
  3. 3 University of MilanItaly 12 works
  4. 4 University of DelawareUnited States 11 works
  5. 5 Cardiff UniversityUnited Kingdom 11 works
  6. 6 Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueFrance 11 works
  7. 7 Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianUnited States 11 works
  8. 8 University of ArizonaUnited States 10 works
  9. 9 National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryUnited States 10 works
  10. 10 University of RochesterUnited States 10 works

Who are the leading researchers in History and Developments in Astronomy?

The most-cited researchers publishing on History and Developments in Astronomy include Edward J. Wollack.

  1. 1 Edward J. Wollack United States 7.2k citations

Ranked by citations received across their whole record, among researchers with at least three works on this topic.

Where is History and Developments in Astronomy research done?

The largest centres of History and Developments in Astronomy research in 2022–2025 are Paris (France), London (United Kingdom), Venice (Italy) and Moscow (Russia). Among places with at least 20 works in it, it is an unusually large share of all research in Venice.

Largest cities, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Paris France 71 works
  2. 2 London United Kingdom 44 works
  3. 3 Venice Italy 40 works
  4. 4 Moscow Russia 30 works
  5. 5 Sydney Australia 22 works
  6. 6 Washington D.C. United States 21 works
  7. 7 Tucson United States 21 works
  8. 8 Cambridge United States 20 works
  9. 9 Rome Italy 18 works
  10. 10 New York United States 17 works

Where it is the local speciality

  1. VeniceIT · 39.8 works61×
← less than its size predictsmore →

Location quotient: how much more of its research is in History and Developments in Astronomy than the world average.

See History and Developments in Astronomy on the map

Where is the best place to study History and Developments in Astronomy?

Among universities, judged by research, Macquarie University, Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Cardiff University score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.

0%5%10%15%mean 4.12%fractional works in this node (log) →share in the world top 10% →Macquarie University: 9, 12.8%Ca' Foscari University of Venice: 40, 0.8%Cardiff University: 11, 0.0%Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian: 10, 5.5%Australian National University: 9, 4.6%University of Delaware: 11, 0.0%University of North Carolina at Charlotte: 10, 0.0%University of Arizona: 10, 4.1%University of Cambridge: 13, 4.7%University College London: 9, 8.7%Macquarie UniversityCenter for Astrophys…Ca' Foscari Universi…Cardiff University
above the meannear itbelow it

One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.

#UniversityScoreTop 10%SpecialisationWorksGrowth
1 Macquarie UniversityAustralia 76.312.8%13.1×9 +318.2%
2 Ca' Foscari University of VeniceItaly 53.90.8%83.9×40
3 Cardiff UniversityUnited Kingdom 44.80.0%13.8×11 +147.0%
4 Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianUnited States 43.85.5%71.7×10 -64.7%
5 Australian National UniversityAustralia 39.74.6%9.5×9 -67.8%
6 University of DelawareUnited States 36.50.0%20.0×11
7 University of North Carolina at CharlotteUnited States 35.90.0%27.8×10 +71.4%
8 University of ArizonaUnited States 35.04.1%8.3×10 -16.2%
9 University of CambridgeUnited Kingdom 34.34.7%6.0×13 -32.9%
10 University College LondonUnited Kingdom 33.48.7%3.4×9 +19.9%

Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.

Is History and Developments in Astronomy research growing?

Output in 2018–2022 was 12% lower than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2014. The fastest-growing topics are History and Developments in Astronomy.

19801990200020102020
grewheldshrank

The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.

Which topics inside it are moving

Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.