The CSO has been a pioneer in the development of submillimeter astronomy since the 1980s. The story of that development told here is one of hard work, ingenuity, and great creativity.

• The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, Thomas Phillips
• A Brief History of CSO, Walter Steiger, 2009 January
• The story of the CSO base facility in Hilo, Walter Steiger, 2008
• Heterodyne Receiver Development at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, Jacob Kooi, 2009

The CSO was designed by Robert B. Leighton.

• Robert B. Leighton (Wikipedia)
• Remembrance (Charles Peck, 1997 March)
• Renowned Physicist Robert B. Leighton Dies (Caltech, 1997 March 10)
• Robert Leighton, 77, Physicist Involved in Space Exploration (New York Times, 1997 March 14)
• Helioseismology
• Guide to the Papers of Robert B. Leighton, 1938-1988