Product Description
On a clear night, the vastness and beauty of the star-filled sky is awe inspiring. In Stargazing: Astronomy without a Telescope Patrick Moore, Britain's best known astronomer, tells you all you need to know about the universe visible to the naked eye. With the aid of charts and illustrations, he explains how to "read" the stars, to know which constellations lie overhead, their trajectory throughout the seasons, and the legends ascribed to them. In a month-by-month guide he describes using detailed star maps of the night skies of both the northern and southern hemispheres. He also takes a look at the planets, the Sun and the Moon and their eclipses, comets, meteors, as well as aurorae and other celestial phenomena--all in accessible scientific detail. This captivating book shows how, even with just the naked eye, astronomy can be a fascinating and rewarding hobby--for life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent guide to the night sky
I own the first edition of this book, which is excellent. For the northern and southern hemispheres, Patrick Moore gives sky maps for the different seasons, so it is fairly easy to get to an appropriate place. What I like most, though, is that he shows useful outlines of constellations, instead of classic ones: What the book illustrates is much more likely to match what you see in the night sky of a city than what you would find in other sources. In addition, his instructions on finding specific stars are very easy to follow.

I'd strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to be more familiar with the stars they see at night, as well as anyone with a high interest in astronomy in general.

Before you buy a telescope...
...learn the constellations. You will find this advice on many astronomy forums and I generally concur with it. I would just enhance it a little: knowing the costellations (and your way around the night sky) will help you enjoy your telescope.
This book will help you with the learning.The charts are not crowded (with the non-constellation stars) and easy to read; there is a separate chart or set of charts for each month and a corresponding description of what you can expect to see. Since I live in a light-polluted suburb I found that having a pair of binoculars helped me find all the stars in the constellations (and so did clear sky :-)

Excellent introduction to the night sky
I enjoyed this book very much.I liked the fact that the author goes through each month of the year and does an excellent job of describing the constellations, and provides maps to help find the stars he mentions.He even covers both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.While I obviously live in the Northern Hemisphere, and so the Northern Hemisphere's sky maps are the most helpful in my own stargazing, I thought it was fun to read about how the sky in other parts of the world compares with my own backyard sky.He also gives helpful advice for finding each of the planets visible with the naked eye.He also describes comets, meteors, and other astronomical phenomona visible with the naked eye.I highly recommend this book for those who want to enjoy astronomy without necessarily spending a lot of money on equipment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I love this book!
This is a n excellent book on telescope making. I constantly refer to it when making mirrors and it never lets me down. Good, clear instructions that are ideal for the first-time mirror maker. I suggest that you get Texereau's "How to make a telescope" as well, and also read the chapter on mirror making in "Amateur telescope making Vol 2". With these three books, you can't go wrong. ... Read more

Product Description

Every night, astronomers use a new generation of giant telescopes at observatories around the world to study phenomena at the forefront of science. By focusing on the history of the Gemini Observatory--twin 8-meter telescopes located on mountain peaks in Hawaii and Chile--Giant Telescopes tells the story behind the planning and construction of modern scientific tools, offering a detailed view of the technological and political transformation of astronomy in the postwar era.

Drawing on interviews with participants and archival documents, W. Patrick McCray describes the ambitions and machinations of prominent astronomers, engineers, funding patrons, and politicians in their effort to construct a modern facility for cutting-edge science--and to establish a model for international cooperation in the coming era of "megascience." His account details the technological, institutional, cultural, and financial challenges that scientists faced while planning and building a new generation of giant telescopes. Besides exploring how and why scientists embraced the promise and potential of new technologies, he considers how these new tools affected what it means to be an astronomer. McCray's book should interest anyone who desires a deeper understanding of the science, technology, and politics behind finding our place in the universe.

Customer Reviews (4)

Giant Telescopes


Focuses (sorry about that) a bit more on proposals and politics than technical matters, which is what I am interested in. Still a good book.

Highly enjoyable story of astronomers and science
I got this book as a present and really liked it.It tells the story of how ground-based telescopes have developed since the 1940s.The book is very readable and covers the subject very thoroughly.The scientific material is presented clearly, especially for non-specialists.

For the reviewer who didn't like that there were "too many people": this isn't a technical manual, it's a history.I was really impressed that the author conducted more than 120 hours of interviews with scientists and engineers, in addition to visiting numerous observatories.You can't understand the development of these telescopes without explaining how people and institutions decided what projects to pursue.

Maybe I'm just not a "people person"
I really enjoy reading about and visiting big telescopes.In addition to reading at telescope web sites on the internet, I have enjoyed finding out what I could from limited descriptions in many of the general astronomy and astrophysics books that are my hobby.I have visited Mauna Kea, Mount Wilson, Arecibo, VLA and the LIGO at Livingston.I was overjoyed when I saw Giant Telescopes, a book that looked like it would be ideal for my interests.

I have been disappointed with the book in general. While many people have been relevant to telescope development, I was so swamped with personalities, that I could not enjoy the "facts" about giant telescopes.Approximately 200 people are introduced, many with just a short bio and a few with a substantial bio.I felt like I was being introduced to a new person on every page (and at 305 pages of text, I was not too far off.)

There is interesting information in this book but it was not much of a pleasure for me to extract it.

The post-war development of US astronomy
This is a very well-researched history of the twists and
turns of post-war US large telescope astronomy and its
desire to retain leadership against growing competition
from Europe and Japan. The story involves a seemingly
endless conflict between private and publicly-funded
astronomers and differing mirror technologies and their
outspoken advocates, against a backdrop of
international partners attempting to join the US effort
and simultaneously knock some order in the US process.

McCray has worked hard to produce a very readable
account. Whether you are a practising astronomer or
interested in how hard it is to synthesize US scientific
opinion, this is well worth reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The most complete, "practical" catalog of Double Stars on the market
I have read the other reviews for this book.And I agree with much (but not all!) of what has been written.How can that be you ask - since the reviews range from 2-stars to 5-stars?I believe some reviewers have missed the mark - specifically, they have missed the author's purpose behind writing this book.

Primarily speaking, this book is not - repeat - is not a trove of science!If you're looking for hardcore science, e.g., Common Proper Motions, star colors, Spectroscopic vs. Interferometric vs. Astrometric Doubles, or astrophysics, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!You will be greatly disappointed.So what is this book?For someone interested in observing double stars, it's the Practical Amateur Astronomer's best friend.

The first 10-pages contain general practical observing information pertinent to every amateur, from beginning to seasoned observer.The next section - the heart of the book - runs from pages 11 - 168 (the rest of the book).This section is a very detailed & complete "Catalog" of Double Stars.No where, that I know of anyway, is there a book (list) of approximately 2100 double stars.The book gives great detail, organized first by constellation and then by RA within the constellation.Data such as coordinates, star name, Position Angle, stellar magnitudes, the "type" of double and observing comments are given for each Double Star.

Ms. Hass, if one can find any fault, may have mis-named her book.First, a more proper name would have simply been "A Catalog of Double Stars" (sorry, I'm not that creative but you get the idea).Second, I even believe the "for small telescopes" is a bit misleading.Many of the stars in her "catalog" require a scope of 200mm - 275mm to split.To me, that aperture isn't "small".So even those backyard astronomers with scopes in the 8" - 12" range will find some stellar challenges within Ms. Hass' catalog.

Finally, could this book have been better?Definitely, yes.The two biggest improvements I would suggest are: (1) An included CD containing a spreadsheet of the entire catalog; and (2) Spiral Binding to make the book more useful "at" the telescope.

But even considering these two drawbacks, for the sheer volume, content & useful information ... 5-stars is definitely in order.If you like observing double stars, and you desire a list that will keep you busy for more than a lifetime, this book is it.It is a valuable reference every double star observer should have in his or her personal library.

Thank you, Ms. Hass, for such a complete and valuable resource - and one that I will use for the rest of my life as I try to work my way through the entire catalog!

Nice object catalog, but a poor observer's guide.
When it comes to double stars, Sissy Haas is not only an experienced observer, she is a very enthusiastic observer as well. The double star articles Haas has authored for Sky and Telescope magazine over the past decade are among the best observing articles the magazine has published. Her excitement for double stars shines through in every paragraph.

Being such a big fan of Haas' writing, I even went to library, photocopied her articles from back issues, and made my own double star "observer's guide" (this was before Sky and Telescope made their archive of back issues downloadable online). So it goes without saying I had high expectations for this book.

I was hoping Double Stars for Small Telescopes would be an observers guide filled with more writing like her Sky and Telescope articles. However, I didn't find anything like this in her book. Instead, Double Stars for Small Telescopes is basically an Excel spreadsheet dump containing data for around 2100 double stars, grouped by constellation.

Besides the normal catalog information you'd expect, Haas provides very brief observing notes in a "spreadsheet cell" for each object. Haas has included her observations, as well as those of other skilled double star observers to compile the list. What you get here is the combined wisdom of a group of skilled observers, listing their picks for best targets of the best. You can use it to form the backbone of a double-star observing program that will last for quite some time.

But still, the book is essentially just a list. A nicely prepared and formatted list, but a list nonetheless. The editors at Sky and Telescope could have taken Haas's past magazine articles and edited them into the book, like they did for Sue French's Celestial Sampler. But they inexplicably missed this opportunity, and that leaves me disappointed by the book overall.

Please don't misunderstand me - I still think this book is worth owning, and I definitely recommend it. But since this book is primarily catalog data, I actually would have preferred to get it as a digital download to import into my astronomy software.

I personally feel Double Stars for Small Telescopes is fine for what it is, but it could have been a lot more. I encourage Sissy Haas to write another book: a true observer's guide to accompany this catalog.

Good overall, but some serious flaws
While the listing is overall a good culling of double stars from longer lists (i.e. the WDS catalog), and the comments are helpful and descriptive, there are three notable flaws not already mentioned by other reviewers.1) The coordinates are given with no indication of the epoch.Presumably, they are 2000.0 coordinates, but that is nowhere explicitly indicated.2) Coordinates are only listed to the nearest tenth of a minute in RA and minute of arc in dec.That's enough to make you wonder what's what in a crowded field.3) In this era of GOTO telescopes, it's too bad the author chose to list the stars from the WDS catalog using discoverer codes (reminiscent of the now badly-outdated "Burnham's Celestial Handbooks") incommensurate with the way these stars are cataloged in common telescope pointing programs like Software Bisque's "The Sky."It's far more cumbersome to have to enter coordinates than to type a simple code like "WDS STT 34."For example, Haas uses the code "CorO" as an abbreviation for "Cordoba Observatory," whereas the WDS code (also used by The Sky) is "COO."(A web search on "CorO double star" yielded far fewer relevant hits than a search for "COO double star," which indicates to me that the latter is a more common usage.)

Poor choice
This is a poor choice for Double Star observers. Basically, it's one big spreadsheet of double star, with comments provided mostly by other observers than the author.

Better to get the tabular data online for free.

Selección de dobles
La parte principal del libro sin duda es la selección de estrellas dobles del WDS, con los datos en tablas. Están agrupadas por constelación y ordenadas por ascensión recta. Incluye las constelaciones de ambos hemisferios, tanto Norte como Sur. Al comienzo del libro aparece una rápida introducción al mundo de las estrellas dobles y su observación, así como unos mapas básicos de búsqueda de un par de sistemas (el libro no incluye cartas de búsqueda, unicamente los datos de cada estrella)

Entre los datos elegantemente tabulados están las coordendas del sistema, la designación, año de la última medición (incluye mediciones recientes), ángulo de posición, separación, magnitudes, espectro, estatus (doble física u óptica, si es conocido) y una columna especialmente interesante para los observadores visuales: comentarios observacionales sobre cada doble (que incluyen la apertura del instrumento y los aumentos utilizados)

Los datos están bien presentados y son buenos. Tienen algunos errores o desactualizaciones que arrastra desde el WDS, como no tener los datos de las magntudes fotométricas más recientes, o para un sistema de más de dos componentes (AB y AC por ejemplo), en ciertas ocasiones, tener una magnitud dada para la estrella A cuando se muestra los datos de AB e inmediatamente debajo, al mostrar los datos AC, la estrella A aparece con otra magnitud difrente a la de la fila superior, AB. Hay varios ejemplos así.

En definitiva, es un buen libro, recomendable para los que gustan de observar estrellas dobles o los que deseen incluir algunas al planear sus noches de observación. La selección es buena y la cantidad es suficiente para estar entretenido un buen tiempo. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Entertaining Tour
I very much enjoyed this book. It walks through the history and many interesting details of telescope construction. I don't have any special optics or astronomy background, just a basic engineering background, and I found the level to be about right, making an interesting tour through an area novel to me.

People interested in another treatment of the hubble space mirror fiasco should see Inviting Disaster: Lessons From the Edge of Technology.

Very good book!
A nicely done book. Organization is a bit odd, but workable. The only reason i couldn't give it 5 stars was it omits the two GREAT telescope designs of the 20th century that ultimately solved most of the observer's problems (both are only briefly mentioned), the Ritchey-Chretien aplanatic Cassegrain and the Schmidt catadioptric camera. I have yet to find a good general audience treatment of these two great designs, or the stories of the eccentric geniuses that created them...

Still a very good book and recommended...

Size matters
For the 400th anniversary of the telescope, physicist Geoff Andersen celebrates with this little volume. He says today's models are still the same "simple" instruments they were back then. Just a lot bigger.
Galileo did not invent the telescope. It isn't certain who did, but the one who got the ball rolling was Hans Lippershey, a spectacle maker in Holland.
Simple or not, it took a long time to get an instrument big enough to see the Universe. It is startling to recall that the proof that the Universe contains more than one galaxy wasn't published until 1929.
It's equally startling to recall that in those days it was still possible to do astronomy just outside the little town of Los Angeles.
Today, with telescopes costing hundreds of millions of dollars, only the very best locations will do. That means a high mountain with clear, still air and not too many neighbors with electric lights.
Mauna Kea and Haleakala in Hawaii are among the very best, although the best of the best may be in Antarctica. Andersen comments that it's doubtful astronomers will prefer Antarctica to Hawaii or Chile, which are the most popular spots for viewing the northern and southern skies, respectively.
Haleakala gets scant mention in "The Telescope," which is a bit of a surprise. The Air Force telescopes there are not the biggest -- although 50 years ago they would have been contenders -- but they are the fastest. That is in terms of tracking fast objects crossing the sky.
Tracking asteroids that might collide with Earth is now perhaps the most alarming and practical use for a telescope, although it could not have been foreseen by Lippershey.
Asteroids were discovered two centuries ago.
There are lots of ways to build a telescope, including putting one in space. But the Earth-bound telescope still has its merits.
Some of the proposals for the next generation of 'scopes are truly astonishing. Their designers are running out of words to label them: "very large" and "giant" have been taken. For the past decade, the dreamers have been sketching a 100-meter telescope. The Kecks at Mauna Kea are 10 meters (32.5 feet) in diameter.
The 100-meter scope is called OWL for "overwhelmingly large telescope."
Andersen says its designers see no particular engineering obstacles to building it.
The OWL's perch has not been determined but it won't be in Hawaii. Its sponsor is the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, so it will have to be below the Equator.
More and more, telescope builders have to deal with claims that they are intruding onto sacred land. The biggest flaw in Andersen's book is that he treats these claims without skepticism.
Many religions' sacred mountains are imaginary. Where chthonic religions do revere real mountains, the sacred spots are usually at lower levels or even inside. Peaks are not often sacred, although not every such claim will be spurious.

A well written analysis of telescopes
Geoff Andersen has compiled a fascinating and thorough description of the modern telescope. It treats the history of the instrument and goes into depth analysing the manner in which telescopes function. It further discusses the limitations on the instrument as well as the rather sizeable developments challenges that have happened in the field of astronomical optics primarily since the late 1940's.

I emailed the author. He stated that he enjoyed researching the book. It shows!

I could not put this book down and I highly recommend it.

Francis J. O'Reilly

Detailed, Authoritative and Absolutely Brilliant
I have read a number of books on telescope history and technology over the recent past, but this one has got to be one of the very best. The scientific principles are very clearly explained with just sufficient depth so as to allow the interested reader to understand the basic concepts without becoming overwhelmed with unnecessary details. Just about everything is covered, from how a telescope works, its limitations, e.g., diffraction limit, atmospheric turbulence, aberrations, etc., its site selection and its use, all the way to the state-of-the-art technology and techniques that are used to observe the faintest of objects such as extra solar planets. Several topics are discussed here that I have not seen discussed in the other books that I have read on this topic. Appendices are included to explain some math/geometry basics, the nature of electromagnetic radiation and even suggestions on buying one's own telescope. The author's writing style is friendly, authoritative and a model of clarity. Because of this, the book could be enjoyed by anyone - especially those with a fascination for telescopes and astronomy. However, it is likely to be relished the most by science buffs and amateur astronomers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The objects are wondrous, the methods ingenious, the people brilliant
Any one that really knows me knows that I love astronomy! When I was young I want to study "Astro-physics." As I grew I changed my mind and wanted to study "Planetary Science." But it was always Astronomy...and this book is a great example of why I wanted to study the sky. The objects are wondrous, the methods ingenious, the people brilliant and the locations exotic. I wonder how anyone can not be amazed at God's creative powers. This book although not religious it does touch on the divine in the heavenly subject of Astronomy. David Levy is an accomplished astronomer and tells many short stories on his life and the career that many of us dreamed we had. He also includes stories of other people that share that dream; people that go out, in the dark, to look up and see the light.

Backyard Binocular Astronomy
I had originally found this book at my local library but enjoyed it so much I bought a copy from Amazon.I researched all of the available books that my library system had (which is quite a few in the Cuyahoga County Library system; it is one of the largest in the country) and this book, in my humble opinion, is by far and away the best I have found.I only have a passing fascination with astronomy and I needed a good book to help me find my way around the night sky and this book is it!The photography of each constillation is excellent.What made this book stand out for me though is the plactic overlay on each constillation that has the image of the constillation drawn out. This makes things so much easier for spotting at night (for me anyhow). It makes for a great reference and the author gives a short story about the history of each constillation.

The author, P.K. Chen, does a great job explaing each constillation and how to locate it in the night sky.What is refreshing is that you do not need a PhD or doctorate degree to understand what he is saying.It just plain ol' everyday English that anyone with a 6th grade education will understand...bravo!

Just get yourself a quality set of binoculars (I'm using an older set of Herter's 7x50's that work brilliantly for me.I made a DIY bracket to mount the binoculars to my tripod), a reclining lawnchair, a blanket and some coffee or hot chocholate (it's cold this time of year in Cleveland!) and get outside and look up...there is so much to see!

Very Useful Stargazing Book
This is a very well-made, useful book for anyone who is interested in learning about the night sky and the constellations.It is well-worth the price.

Really nice book
I'm really happy to have this book because David H. Levy is a person who gave me so much passion in astronomy. I like his books very much. It is true that "Star trails is a look into the minds and hearts of the people who have madw a difference in how we study and enjoy the sky". Thank you David for this book.

Beautiful and useful
This is a gorgeous little book. The guts of the book are 45 sharp, well-reproduced wide-field photos of constellations with constellation lines and art on transparent overlays. Each photo is accompanied by a page of text that outlines the basic shape of the constellation, notable stars and deep-sky objects, and the history and mythology of the constellation. The photos are arranged by season, and each season has its own introduction, with one page about the appearance of the constellations and another about the myths associated with the constellations of that season. There is a separate introduction to the entire book that covers the basics of stargazing.

Each season has an all-sky map that puts the constellations into context. These maps will look familiar to anyone who has picked up Sky & Telescope recently, or any of their spate of recent books. I'm fine with that, because I'm a big fan of those maps, and with such good ones available there is no reason for S&T not to standardize throughout their publishing lineup.

The book is solidly constructed. The paper is heavy and glossy throughout, and the transparent overlays are also heavy. It's spiral bound and it's fat; the spiral is about an inch in diameter. I haven't had any problems with the pages hanging up on the spirals or the book not wanting to close correctly, which are frequent problems with spiral-bound books.

Be aware that this is not an observing guide. It's spiral bound to lay flat so that you can read the text and look at the photos and overlays at the same time, not so it will sit flat on the table next to your telescope. The book is not detailed enough to serve as an observing guide, and it is too heavy and too pretty to take outside anyway. If you're looking for something to hold in your hands while you learn the constellations outdoors, I recommend a good planisphere or another book from Sky & Telescope: Ken Hewitt-White's Patterns in the Sky. Also, the book does not cover all 88 officially-recognized constellations, just those visible from mid-northern latitudes plus a couple of greatest hits from the southern hemisphere.

So why only four stars? In the copy I got, a couple of the overlays are poorly aligned with the underlying photos, so matching up patterns to stars is a challenge. Because the paper and transparency material is so heavy, it is nearly impossible to simply slide the overlay into position, at least without risking some damage to the middle edges where the pages are punched for the spiral binding. This is a pretty minor complaint--almost all of the overlays are spot on, and the two that are off aren't useless, they're just...off. Maybe I'm spoiled by the quality of books these days, but considering that the overlays are the raison d'etre of the book it would have been nice to have perfect alignment throughout.

Who is this book for? Beginning stargazers who want to learn a little more about the craft and the subject matter--or who would like to practice picking the constellations out of a starfield during the day or on cloudy nights (by pulling up the overlays to expose the naked sky), those with more experience who want to meet up again with old friends, or anyone looking for a beautiful and beautifully made book about the stars. ... Read more

Product Description
In this book, Peter Manly surveys more than 150 unusual telescope designs. These are telescopes built by amateur and professional astronomers to suit some special need. There is, for instance, an inflatable telescope and one with a liquid mirror.Every so often a neglected design comes back into fashion: the largest telescopes now under construction use the alt-azimuth design that was ignored for over a century, and liquid mirror telescopes can be used for zenithal astronomy. The author shows why a particular engineering approach makes each telescope unique and explains the rationale behind the design. The effects on telescope performance are discussed where possible.This is not just a collection of weird and wonderful devices that proved to be false starts; the author also discusses the first instrument to measure star diameters and the first useful radio telescope. This book is a resource and stimulus for anyone who likes to build astronomical telescopes or is interested in the history of telescope-making. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Interesting book on general telescope topics
This book is NOT about telescope building or optical construction.It is a tour of the odd and unusual telescopes that have either been made or that have been proposed.It is an interesting text for the telescope fan butuseless for someone wanting to purchase or construct their own telescope.

A necessity for telescope builders and fans
A marvelous little book, and completely unique so far as I can tell. Manly's book is a tour of unusual telescopes. What's an unusual telescope? Well, I suppose it's something you just don't see discussed anywhere else. He discusses unusual mirror and lens materials- obsidian, aluminum foam, mylar, spun mercury and even heated air. Mounts get quite a bit of discussion, sorted by degrees of freedom. There are fixed telescopes, one axis telescopes, and on up to multi-axis sattelite tracking telescopes.

This is an expensive little book, but at the same time I think Manly has written a modern classic of the sort people will be consulting well into the next century. Not that this is a dry reference; it's a wonderfully entertaining tour of the world of the possible. I'm very glad I bought my copy. ... Read more

Product Description

Amateur astronomers have to start somewhere. Most begin by buying a modest astronomical telescope and getting to know the night sky. After a while, many want to move on to the next stage, but this can be problematic. The magazines advertise a mass of commercially-made equipment – some of it very expensive – which can represent a major financial outlay. The trick is to choose the right equipment, and then use it to its fullest extent.

Observing Skills: The Science and Art of using Astronomical Telescopes provides the required information. First, it explains how to get the best from entry-level equipment (that upgrade may not even be needed for a year or two!). Second, it explains how to select equipment that is at the ‘next level’, and describes how use more advanced telescopes and accessories.

The book is organized according to observational targets, and although it concentrates mainly on visual observing, it concludes with a section on imaging and the equipment currently available – from regular digital cameras, through webcams, to specialized chilled-chip CCD cameras.

Observing Skills: The Science and Art of using Astronomical Telescopes is the perfect follow-up to Moore and Watson: Astronomy with a Budget Telescope and Tonkin: AstroFAQs . It neatly fills the gap between these introductory books and the more advanced books in Springer’s Practical Astronomy list.

Customer Reviews (1)

A good solid book on about how to do things with your telescope
Really enjoyed this book.It is very readable, with enough humorous twists to keep me reading almost straight through.This is a quality book throughout with lots of "how-to's" in it.I am glad that I made the purchase.

This is an intermediate book that assumes you know at least a little about telescopes and astronomy.Many good pictures.Made with quality materials. ... Read more

Product Description

Ever since Galileo glimpsed the moons of Jupiter through his tiny telescope, astronomers have striven to understand how the universe is constructed and how it evolves. Every increase in the size and power of telescopes has led to new discoveries. Within the last century, telescopes have enabled us to learn about pulsars, quasars, gamma-ray bursters, black holes, and the acceleration of the universe's expansion.

An Acre of Glass describes how recent innovations in telescope technology have led to the construction of giant, ground-based observatories and to an explosive development of astronomy. Today, telescopes with mirrors 30, 50, and even 100 meters in diameter are being built. Optical interferometers that cover an acre of ground are observing every night. J. B. Zirker shows us how telescopes past, present, and future are built and describes the exciting science they reveal -- from planets beyond our solar system to supermassive black holes at the core of distant galaxies.

For every striking image revealed through these enormous telescopes, technicians and scientists must overcome unique and incredible challenges. How many pack animals does it take to get a telescope to the top of a mountain? How do you make the shape of a 6-foot-wide mirror accurate to within a 1,000th the thickness of a human hair? In clear and accessible language, Zirker answers these questions and more, providing fascinating technical detail about how a telescope is made and what the next generation can hope to see.

Customer Reviews (4)

Review Acre of Glass
Excellent history of optical telescopes. also excellent survey of modern monolithic mirrors with description of the segmented telescope.

An interesting book for a telescope aficionado
As the title "An Acre of Glass" suggests, this book is primarily about the building of ever-larger optical telescopes around the world. The author does a credible job with the story, with accurate discussions and generally good writing. If anything detracts from the reader's experience it is the author's diversions into other stories. He breaks the central story between Palomar and the next generation of observatories with a chapter on radio astronomy and an assortment of other astronomy achievements. All important stuff, but just a distraction in this book. It would have been better to have spread the material through the book, or have placed it in an appendix. The chapter on the Hubble space telescope seems similarly perfunctory. I think the book would have been stronger if the author had remained focused on his real story and resisted the urge to pretend to cover a larger subject. But people interested in the development of ever larger optical telescopes will still enjoy this book.

Modern astronomy pushed by telescope technology!
Astronomers have long endeavored to understand the universe and its construction by using telescopes to make new discovers. AN ACRE OF GLASS describes the history of telescope technology and how recent innovations have led to a leap forward in astronomical discovery. AN ACRE OF GLASS: A HISTORY AND FORECAST OF THE TELESCOPE reveals how telescope technology lead directly to these new findings - and new questions. Chapters often read with the drama of fiction, documenting the discoveries and endeavors of individuals involved in astronomical science and research. An excellent guide to how modern astronomy has been pushed by telescope advancement.

A Comprehensive Exploration of the Tools of Astronomy
In this relatively detailed work, the author discusses the history of the telescope. This history is heavily slanted towards the past century, with much detail provided on developments in recent decades; forecasts for the foreseeable future are also presented. Although optical telescopes, and related apparatus, take center stage, radio telescopes are also discussed. A set of short notes in the back of the book provides clear and concise explanations of some of the items presented in the main text. The author writes very clearly and in an engaging style; he succeeds admirably in conveying the excitement of both furthering the technology as well as using it to deepen our knowledge in the fascinating field of astronomy. Plenty of photos and diagrams complement this excellent work. I believe that this book can be of great interest to a wide range of readers, but it will be most easily accessible to science buffs, especially those already acquainted with the basic physical principles that are central to astronomy and astronomical observation. ... Read more

Product Description
Ours is an age of science and technology, based on precision instruments. The first such device to strengthen our feeble human senses in our striving to comprehend the strange and elusive universe around us was the telescope. Cornelis de Waard, in his De uitvinding der verrekijkers (The Hague, 1906), had uncovered many new documents bearing on the genesis of the telescope. Van Helden began this project as a translation of de Waard s study. However, Van Helden decided that the profession and de Waard s memory would be better served by a collection and translation of all the relevant primary sources named in his study. Contents of this volume: Intro.; The Background; Between Porta and Lipperhey, 1589-1608; and Documents. Illus. Reprint. ... Read more

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This second - completely revised - edition of Chris Kitchin's easy-to-read book provides a carefully structured introduction to the tools of astronomy. Beginning with an in-depth look at astronomical telescopes, it progresses through a coverage of positions and motions of astronomical objects, to observing instruments and techniques. New to this edition are sections on modern small telescopes and their design, revised material on the computer processing of data, and extended appendices. Like the first edition, questions (with answers) are given so that students and enthusiastic amateur astronomers can check their progress. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Little value for money--not recommended
This book leaves much to be desired of it as far as content is concerned. Although all basic--and not so basic--aspects of introductory astronomy are covered here, this is done in an extremely superficial way. Every topic is only touched upon, in most cases, in a couple of pages maximum, giving only a bird's eye view them. The most deficient parts are those dealing with actual observing, about which the author gives very little information. The book is adorned with numerous illustrations, but lacking in text.

James Muirden's "How to Use an Astronomical Telescope" has done a much better job in this respect. Full explanations of where to look and what to find in the sky are given, including full chapters about the sun, the moon, the planets (one by one), comets, and deep sky objects such as galaxies, star clusters, nebulas, etc. Kitchin has done none of this.

But back to "Telescopes and Techniques". One particularly annoying feature of this book is how the editor of this collection has decided to present the text on the pages. Why, oh why, I kept asking myself, should the space of one thrid of each page be left as blank left margin? Longer lines will certainly not harm the reading, but on the contrary will make the reader feel that they have a serious book in their hands, rather than a children's story.

Finally, one must also wonder what justifies the high price of this book. Perhaps, I keep telling myself, it is the high-quality, glossy paper on which it is printed. For the rest, I cannot see any reason why anyone interested in more than just a very superficial introduction to astronomy should by this book.

Good intro to the field
This book is a very good introductory book.It has all you need to know about the history and practical aspects of astronomy.The technical explanations of optics get a bit detailed (i.e., into the math) at times, but are written in such a way that the principles are understood, even if the math isn't.Very good use of photos and illustrations.The author explains well, and doesn't inundate you in details you don't need ... Read more

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The book shows, step by step, the design, implementation, and testing of the antenna/telescope control system, from the design stage (analytical model) to fine tuning of the RF beam pointing (monopulse and conscan). The purpose of this book is to present the implementation of the new theoretical developments in structural dynamics and control theory in the antenna and telescope industry. Also to present the significant improvement in pointing accuracy of the antenna and telescope when the presented techniques are implemented.

This book fills the need in the antenna/telescope control techniques. For long time, since 1990 when the last book was published, there was no publication on the antenna/telescope/radar modeling and control.

Customer Reviews (1)

Very good coverage of antenna and altazimuth telescope control
This book fills an interesting niche in the field. Large antennas and large telescope structures are very similar, and the fundamental approaches used to understand their performance are the same. The author does a commendable job of presenting the necessary information in a clear and understandable way; let down slightly by a few typos and some slightly weak error checking and editing (this book is not cheap - this sort of thing should be picked up in the proofing) - but despite this it is well worth the money.

I work for a large telescope project and this book is worth purchasing simply to get the perspective of an experienced practitioner in the field, and to see common questions ('Is a velocity loop really necessary?') comprehensively yet compactly addressed. Overall, an interesting and worthwhile book - would that more engineers in the field could - and would - produce something similar. The discipline would be the richer for it. ... Read more

Product Description
Humans have long thought that planetary systems similar to our own should exist around stars other than the Sun, yet the search for planets outside our Solar System has had a dismal history of discoveries that could not be confirmed. However, this all changed in 1995, after which astonishing progress can be seen in this field; we now know of more than 200 extrasolar planets. These findings mark crucial milestones in the search for extraterrestrial life - arguably one of the most intriguing endeavors of modern science. These proceedings from the 2005 Space Telescope Science Institute Symposium on Extrasolar Planets explore one of the hottest topics in astronomy. Discussions include the Kepler mission, observational constraints on dust disk lifetimes and the implications for planet formation, and gravitational instabilities in protoplanetary disks. With review papers written by world experts in their fields, this is an important resource on extrasolar planets. ... Read more

Product Description

Observing the Messier Objects with a Small Telescope contains descriptions and photographs of the 103 Messier objects, with instructions on how to find them without a computerized telescope or even setting circles. The photographs show how the objects appear through a 127mm Maksutov (and other instruments, where applicable). The visual appearance of a Messier object is often very different from what can be imaged with the same telescope, and a special feature of this book is that it shows what you can see with a small telescope.

It will also contain binocular descriptions of some objects.

Messier published the final version of his catalog in 1781 (it contains 103 different onjects), a catalog so good that it is still in common use today, well over two centuries later. In making a catalog of all the 'fixed' deep-sky objects that observers might confuse with comets, Messier had succeeded in listing all the major interesting deep-sky objects that today are targets for amateur astronomers.

Messier's telescope (thought to be a 4-inch) was, by today's amateur standards, small. It also had rather poor optics by modern standards. Thus - and despite the fact that he was a master observer - all the things Messier saw can be found and observed by any observer using a commercial 127 mm (5-inch) telescope. Observing the Messier Objects with a Small Telescope lets the reader follow in Messier's footsteps by observing the Messier objects more or less as the great man saw them himself!

Product Description

This book is about using an 80mm refractor / 90mm Maksutov (such as a Helios 80 or Meade ETX90) as more than a "quick look" instrument, but rather something capable of use as an introduction to scientific observations. Emphasis is on measurement and discovery activities rather than on casual observing. There are two objectives to these activities: to re-enact the process of discovery and to provide amateur observers with the knowledge and skill that will help them make genuine contributions to the field of astronomy.

It is often said that users of small telescopes can conduct worthwhile scientific work, but ‘how’ is seldom explained except in the context of observations carried out by the most advanced amateur astronomers. This book provides the necessary introduction – derived from the author’s many year of experience in teaching the subject – that will be the starting point for serious work.

Users will find many activities and projects suitable for an 80mm refractor or 90mm reflector or Maksutov that have not been published elsewhere.

Customer Reviews (3)

Sentimental Favorite
This was my bible back in 1966 when I made my first mirror, an 8". At that time, there were a lot of things I just couldn't grasp as a sophomore in high school. However, with the help of a friend with lots of experience, I got over the rough parts and made a pretty decent mirror. I can't comment on the latest edition as I don't know how much was updated from that tried and true technology from so long ago. All I know is that the version published in the 60's was relevant and accurate.

This is the book from which I learned at least one new vocabulary word, "tyro." I had to look it up. The rest of the language was well explained including all the optical terms that are a regular part of my language today.

If nothing else, this is a solid book to start out telescope making. It should be used in conjunction with other books on the subject to give you a more rounded view on making your first mirror. However, it stands on its own as a mirror-makers bible. It may not have the depth of math the Texereau book or a few of the others does, but it gets the job done. Worked for me. Highly recommended.

Interesting read
This book was interesting, and helped my 80 year-old father to take up a hobby that has always interested him. However, the information in the book is somewhat out of date.

Still possiblythe best book for the novice mirror maker
In making this review, I'm amazed on thedateI'm writing it to be the first one, this book has been in print for over half a century and I can't believe I'm the only one who ever found it useful.The author AllynThompson, was a postmaster by profession, who led a group of a group ofamateur telescope makers at the old Hayden planetarium in the 1940's to thetime of his death in the mid 1950's.The book itself is an outgrowth of aseries of articles he wrote immediately after the second world war whichappeared in Sky and Telescope magazine.Though the size and focal lengthof the telescope he describes building (a 6-inch f8 reflector) is small bythe amateur standards of the last 20 years, it is still probably the bestsize for a novice wishing to grind and polish the primary mirror themselvesto start with.And it is in his step by step discriptions for making theprimary mirror of a Newtonian reflector that this book excels.He tellsyou in a simple straight forward way the theory and history of thetelescope, materials needed to grind and polish your own primary mirror,how to do it, how to test it (his discription of the Focault tester andusing masks with it are in my opinion the still the clearest written forthe beginner). He does not attempt to scare you away with horror stories ofall the terrible things that can happen to you, turned down edge, dogbiscuit ect, a flaw you find in the old "ATM" books I and IIedited by Albert Ingalls.Thompson identifies possible problems, but thenguides you through them with straight forward techniques.His "buttonlaps" were a wonderful inovation for small mirror making and moldswere widely available when this writer polished his first mirrors 30 yearsago. Unfortunately nobody I know of today sells the molds commercially, butThompson shows you how to make them yourself if you want to try it. Asfar as the mechanical construction of the telescope, the book is dated. Not many people today would use babbitt filled pipe fittings to make amount, not since the easily built and more stable Dobson mount became thestandard about 20 years ago for home builts (for a good book on that seeRichard Berry's "Build Your Own Telescope").But John Dobson wasjust starting to build scopes about the time Thompson died so he can't beblamed for never having seen one, he was on the other side of the country.All in all this book has held up well for something written 50 years ago. I wish I'd had a copy of it when I built my first scope. I didn't discoverit till after I'd made my second mirror and I believe things would havegone a lot smoother had I read this first instead of using the old ATMbooks.It's too bad Allen Thompson isn't with us today to have updated themechanical stuff, but as a mentor for your first mirror, you can't beatthis book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Sentimental Favorite
This was my bible back in 1966 when I made my first mirror, an 8". At that time, there were a lot of things I just couldn't grasp as a sophomore in high school. However, with the help of a friend with lots of experience, I got over the rough parts and made a pretty decent mirror. I can't comment on the latest edition as I don't know how much was updated from that tried and true technology from so long ago. All I know is that the version published in the 60's was relevant and accurate.

This is the book from which I learned at least one new vocabulary word, "tyro." I had to look it up. The rest of the language was well explained including all the optical terms that are a regular part of my language today.

If nothing else, this is a solid book to start out telescope making. It should be used in conjunction with other books on the subject to give you a more rounded view on making your first mirror. However, it stands on its own as a mirror-makers bible. It may not have the depth of math the Texereau book or a few of the others does, but it gets the job done. Worked for me. Highly recommended.

Interesting read
This book was interesting, and helped my 80 year-old father to take up a hobby that has always interested him. However, the information in the book is somewhat out of date.

Still possiblythe best book for the novice mirror maker
In making this review, I'm amazed on thedateI'm writing it to be the first one, this book has been in print for over half a century and I can't believe I'm the only one who ever found it useful.The author AllynThompson, was a postmaster by profession, who led a group of a group ofamateur telescope makers at the old Hayden planetarium in the 1940's to thetime of his death in the mid 1950's.The book itself is an outgrowth of aseries of articles he wrote immediately after the second world war whichappeared in Sky and Telescope magazine.Though the size and focal lengthof the telescope he describes building (a 6-inch f8 reflector) is small bythe amateur standards of the last 20 years, it is still probably the bestsize for a novice wishing to grind and polish the primary mirror themselvesto start with.And it is in his step by step discriptions for making theprimary mirror of a Newtonian reflector that this book excels.He tellsyou in a simple straight forward way the theory and history of thetelescope, materials needed to grind and polish your own primary mirror,how to do it, how to test it (his discription of the Focault tester andusing masks with it are in my opinion the still the clearest written forthe beginner). He does not attempt to scare you away with horror stories ofall the terrible things that can happen to you, turned down edge, dogbiscuit ect, a flaw you find in the old "ATM" books I and IIedited by Albert Ingalls.Thompson identifies possible problems, but thenguides you through them with straight forward techniques.His "buttonlaps" were a wonderful inovation for small mirror making and moldswere widely available when this writer polished his first mirrors 30 yearsago. Unfortunately nobody I know of today sells the molds commercially, butThompson shows you how to make them yourself if you want to try it. Asfar as the mechanical construction of the telescope, the book is dated. Not many people today would use babbitt filled pipe fittings to make amount, not since the easily built and more stable Dobson mount became thestandard about 20 years ago for home builts (for a good book on that seeRichard Berry's "Build Your Own Telescope").But John Dobson wasjust starting to build scopes about the time Thompson died so he can't beblamed for never having seen one, he was on the other side of the country.All in all this book has held up well for something written 50 years ago. I wish I'd had a copy of it when I built my first scope. I didn't discoverit till after I'd made my second mirror and I believe things would havegone a lot smoother had I read this first instead of using the old ATMbooks.It's too bad Allen Thompson isn't with us today to have updated themechanical stuff, but as a mentor for your first mirror, you can't beatthis book! ... Read more

Product Description
Discover the power of your telescope as you explore the vast reaches of the universe

Want to explore Mars? Observe Jupiter’s cloud bands? Visit a galaxy that’s almost 2 million light years away? With More Telescope Power, you can do all of that and more! Under the guidance of experienced astronomer Gregory Matloff, you’ll uncover the full potential of your telescope as you take a fascinating tour of the universe.

Along the way you’ll learn plenty of new observation techniques, including: using various eyepieces and filters; tracking satellites; observing comets and meteors; using sunspots to determine solar rotation; and much, much more. Filled with dozens of all-new stargazing projects and observing activities, this detailed guide also contains plenty of helpful illustrations such as finder charts, lunar and solar eclipse tables, diagrams, and photos. Whether you’re a science teacher searching for simple telescope projects, an amateur astronomer just learning to use your new telescope, or a science student with a yen for the stars, you’ll find everything you’re looking for in More Telescope Power. ... Read more

Product Description
This timely volume reviews recent progress in our understanding of all aspects of stellar structure and evolution, with special emphasis on currently unsolved problems. It covers every stage in the life of a star, from birth to death, as well as the fundamental processes that affect stellar evolution. Each chapter is written by a leading world expert, based on presentations at an international conference held at the Space Telescope Science Institute.A complete understanding of stellar evolution is important in its own right, constituting a vital piece in the more general puzzle of understanding how galaxies form and evolve. This volume presents the most comprehensive and up-to-date survey available of this crucial topic in astrophysics. ... Read more

Product Description
The Hubble Space Telescope has made some of the most dramatic discoveries in the history of astronomy. From its vantage point 600km above the Earth, Hubble is able to capture images and spectra that would be difficult or impossible to obtain from the ground. Representing some of the most important scientific achievements of the Hubble Space Telescope in its first decade of operation, this collection of review articles is intended for researchers and graduate students. ... Read more