Dresse un portrait exhaustif de l'Europe spatiale en matière scientifique, technique et politique, ses difficultés et ses relations avec les Etats-Unis. Analyse les grandes forces de ce positionnement stratégique pour l'Europe dans sa conquête pour une plus grande autonomie en matière spatiale. Passe notamment en revue les télescopes terrestres et spatiaux et les projets en radioastronomie. ©Electre 2019

Présentation en anglais Europe's Quest for the Universe The large european instruments developed for observing the Universe, from the Sun and planets to its most remote reaches, form the principal subject of this book. Some of the more striking results obtained or anticipated on the ground or in space at radio, infrared and visible wavelengths and in X-gamma-ray and cosmic-rays are covered. The roles of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) are stressed, but national initiatives are also touched upon. Input into the research system in the form of financing and personnel and output as publications are evaluated. The time frame covered extends from around 1980 till about 2020. While this book centers on European developments, comparisons with what others are doing are included. After the war Europe in science had fallen far behind the US. Thanks to European cooperation equality has again been reached. Through ESO's Very Large Telescope and ESA's missions, like the Infrared Space Observatory, X- and gamma-ray satellites, Mars Express and others, Europe is fully and independently present at the forefront. The need to integrate the scientists and engineers from the new EU countries into the overall organization of European science is noted, an integration which ultimately could extend even further eastward. This book addresses a wide audience : astronomers and space scientists, students, politicians involved in science funding, amateur astronomers and the educated public with an interest in the science and technology achievable by European cooperation.