Telescopes Books

The Perfect Machine: Building the Palomar Telescope

Ronald Florence

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A fine rendering of a historic achievement 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Florence's narrative brings alive the fascinating saga of the great Mt. Palomar reflector, in its time the world's largest telescope and a pioneering example of "Big Science." The instrument's gestation period, beginning in 1928 and interrupted by the second World War, was so long that three of the principal figures didn't live to see it dedicated in 1948. Included in this group was the project's founding father, George Ellery Hale, for whom the telescope is named. The author uses Hale's remarkable abilities and seemingly unending physical and mental travails as a unifying theme throughout the book.

A renowned telescope developer and respected solar astronomer, Hale had the establishment clout and scientific connections to launch such a grand project and assemble a team to carry it out. While suffering from a chronic nervous condition that often left him isolated in a darkened room, he was nevertheless able to lead the program through its most critical periods and help rescue it from a multitude of financial and organizational crises.

The immense 200-inch (nearly 17 ft) diameter of the Palomar telescope's main mirror gave it twice the theoretical resolution and four times the light grasp of its Hale-inspired predecessor, the 100-inch reflector on Mt. Wilson. Everything about the 500-ton machine was Brobdingnagian, perhaps best symbolized by the fact that an observer at the prime focus actually sat inside the telescope tube, with plenty of clearance for starlight to stream past him to the mirror some fifty-five feet below.

In the hands of Florence, what might have been a confusing welter of facts becomes a coherent and utterly engrossing suspense story. He seemingly overlooks nothing about the relevant issues of Astronomy, optics, engineering, business, politics and personalities; yet there is no sense of overkill and one always feels eager to begin the next chapter. The dozens of interacting characters are portrayed with enough subtlety, irony and humor to make them seem real and familiar. I have seldom gotten so much pure enjoyment from a book.

Editorial Review:

Almost a half-century after is completion, the 200-inch Palomar telescope remains an unparalleled combination of vast scale and microscope detail. As huge as the Pantheon of Rome and as heavy as the Statue of Liberty, this magnificent instrument is so precisely built that its seventeen-foot mirror was hand-polished to a tolerance of 2/1,000,000 of an inch. The telescope's construction drove some to the brink of madness, made others fearful that mortals might glimpse heaven, and transfixed an entire nation. Ronald Florence weaves into his account of the creation of "the perfect machine" a stirring chronicle of the birth of Big Science and a poignant rendering of an America mired in the depression yet reaching for the stars.

How to Use a Computerized Telescope: Practical Amateur Astronomy Volume 1 (Practical Amateur Astronomy)

Michael A. Covington

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

How to Use a Computerized Telescope describes how to get a computerized telescope up-and-running, and how to embark on a program of observation. Michael Covington explains in detail how the sky moves, how a telescope tracks it, and how to get the most out of any computerized telescope. Packed full of practical advice and tips for troubleshooting, his book gives detailed instructions for three popular telescopes: the Meade® LX200, Celestron^DCC NexStar 5 and 8, and Meade® Autostar^DTM (ETX and LX90). Michael A. Covington is an associate research scientist at the University of Georgia. He is a computational linguist trained in the computer processing of human language and the computer modeling of human logical reasoning, and a widely recognized expert on the Prolog programming language. He is the author of nine books including Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Seventh Edition (Barron's, 2000), Astrophotography for the Amateur (Cambridge, 1999), PROLOG Programming in Depth (Simon & Schuster, 1996), Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide (1993), and Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1985). A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Covington is a Contributing Editor to, and former "Q&A" columnist of, Poptronics magazine.

Reed's Sextant Simplified

Dag Pike

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A guide to the device only 3 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This book provides a thorough review of sextant features, components, and construction. It also offers detailed information on the care and calibration of these instruments. What is lacking is any information on the use of a sextant for navigation. Reed's does describe techniques for sighting and give some tips for costal navigation, but it assumes the reader has a fair ammount of familiarity with celestial navigation. This is a great book to borrow, but beginners should spend your money elsewhere.

Editorial Review:

Generations of seamen and airmen have treasured and relied upon the sextant. The purest of all nautical instruments, it enables seafarers to accurately determine their global position alone and without the aid of modern technology. Though contemporary sailors generally use electronic systems to orient themselves, the sextant is far from redundant: all commercial trading vessels are still required to keep one aboard. Should electronic systems fail, a sextant can make the difference between disaster and survival.

In this invaluable tutorial for beginning navigators, Dag Pike clearly and efficiently describes the sextant, discusses its principles, and instructs in its use and care, while also outlining its practical, and sometimes forgotten, uses in coastal navigation.

Pauper & Prince: Ritchey, Hale, & Big American Telescopes

Donald E. Osterbrock

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Important addition to the history of this era... 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

There could hardly be a greater contrast between two men than that of George Ritchey and George Hale. Hale was a scientist, fund raiser, organizer, motivator, and extraordinarily successful at all he attempted. Ritchey was a gifted instrument maker, but a failure at human relations, organizational matters, and managed to squander most of his opportunities, particularly after he left Mt. Wilson. Osterbrock's book is the story of the great era of American astronomy dominated by the telescopes of George Ellery Hale, and Hale is necessarily prominent in its pages. However, Osterbrock tells the story, for the most part, from the perspective of the gifted mirror grinder and optician, Ritchey, who mostly received short-shrift in other documentaries of this era. Osterbrock attempts to correct some oversights of other histories which have tended to downplay Ritchey's contributions. Ritchey, for instance, was the project manager for most of the 60- and 100-inch Mt. Wilson telescope projects, and without him, arguably, these instruments would not have been the stupendous successes they were. Clearly Hale owed much to Ritchey, but after their falling out and Ritchey's subsequent firing from Mt. Wilson, Ritchey all but disappeared from American astronomy. Hale didn't overtly blackball him, but such was Hale's influence and universal respect, that if Hale didn't want to be around you, well then, nobody wanted to be around you. Ritchey spent years in France working on several telescope projects that ultimately failed, and eventually came back to the US as an old man and built the reflector for the US Navel Observatory, a 40-inch Ritchey-Chretien model. It was an exquisite instrument, but due to its location in light-polluted Washington D.C., it never realized its potential until long after Ritchey was dead and it was moved to an Arizona mountaintop.

Osterbrock points out that the Ritchey-Chretien reflector model, so ignored and disparaged during his lifetime, eventually won out and now nearly all large telescopes are built using this model.

Ritchey was a genius and well ahead of his time in many respects. It was simply his misfortune to have lived opposite the likes of George Hale, who because of money, position, and success, was able to overshadow and dominate his accomplishments. If Ritchey could have adapted to his position as optician, he could have had a sparkling career at Mt. Wilson, and later, Mt. Palomar. Instead, his hard-headedness met the immovable object of George Hale's ambition and momentum, and Ritchey ultimately lost.

How To Use An Astronomical Telescope

James Muirden

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Astronomy has never been a more popular pastime than it is today. The increased availability of less expensive, more powerful, and more sophisticated telescopes has given rise to a new generation of stargazers. And for these beginning astronomers here is the comprehensive book covering everything from the difficult task of selecting an instrument to the equally daunting choices that arise when a telescope is turned to the heavens.

Renowned British astronomer and author James Muirden takes the fledgling astronomer by the hand in his new book, offering tips on:

* the purchase, assembly, and orientation of your new telescope
* how to observe and chart the Sun, Moon, planets, stars and comets
* how to investigate the deep-sky objects -- clusters, nebulae, and other galaxies beyond the Milky Way

The final chapter, "Windows into Space," explores ten carefully selected regions featuring noteworthy examples of double stars, galaxies, and nebulae, as well as more obscure objects seldom examined by astronomers.

How to Use an Astronomical Telescope offers completely revised and updated location charts with detailed coordinates, tables, appendixes, and numerous illustrations and photographs, making it the essential volume for one's first exploration of the cosmos.

The Design and Construction of Large Optical Telescopes

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent book on large telescopes 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Since I work for a privately held observatory engaged in the construction of a new telescope and facility, this book is extremely useful. I have found its treatment of all the subjects related to large telescopes very helpful and just the right level of depth for my situation.

Editorial Review:

This book assembles for the first time in a single text the full range of astronomical and engineering principles used in the design and construction of large telescopes. It aims to cover all aspects of the field, from the fundamentals of astronomical observation, to optics, control systems, and structural, mechanical, and thermal engineering, as well as such specialized topics as site selection and program management. The book is the result of the collaboration of many leading astronomers, engineers, and project managers. Their contributions have been edited to provide a consistent approach and treatment: for example, ground- and space-based telescopes are treated from a common perspective. Topics covered include: - Design Methods and Project Management - Telescope Optics - Stray Light Control - Structure and Mechanisms - Pointing and Control - Active and Adaptive Optics - Thermal Control - Integration and Verification - Observatory Enclosure and Siting

Telescope Optics : Complete Manual for Amateur Astronomers

Harrie G. J. Rutten, Martin A. M. Van Venrooij

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent manual for beginners and advanced amateurs 4 out of 5 stars.
39 of 44 people found this review helpful.

Telescope Optics is a comprehensive, educational and practical manual for beginners and advanced amateur opticians and astronomers. It is probably one of the best overall sources of information on basic optics, optical instruments and their prformance. The book comes with a DOS-based computer program that allows users to design their own systems and evaluate theoretical or existing optical configurations. Telescope Optics fills the gap between simple amateur telescope and optics manuals and professional literature. The book is due for a second edition, as well as an upgraded optical design and analysis program suitable for Windows-driven computer environment. Although Telescope Optics came with some errata sheets, the book has notable omissions and errors, summarized below. - Page 5, line 19. No mention is made of either F. B. Wright (1935) or Y. Väisälä (1936), whose modifications to the original Schmidt camera design resulted in more compact, flat-field instruments suitable for visual as well as photographic work. - Page 88, line 5. Credit is given to K. Slevogt (October, 1942) for developing a modification to the famous Baker camera. His work was preceeded, however, by C. R. Burch (April, 1942) in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (Vol. 102, No. 3, "Design of Approximately Flat-fielded System, with Two Spherical Mirrors and One Plate"). - Page 127, line3. The book incorrectly relates R. J. Lurie's work with that of J. L. Houghton. Houghton (U.S. Patent No 2,350,112, May 30, 1944) proposed a two-element all-spherical corrector used in conjunction with a spherical mirror for a Newtonian-like configuration. The system is aplanatic (free of coma and spherical aberration). Lurie (Journal of the Optical Society of America, March 1975, p. 261) proposes two-element all-spherical correctors in conjunction with aspheric (conic-section) mirrors resulting in a fully systems that are fully anastigmatic - free of coma, spherical aberration and astigmatism. The two systems are not interchangable and only bear superficial resemblence. The value of Lurie's configurations is in superior optical performance, which in all aspects except distortion rival that of a true Schmidt camera, and in the applicability of converting smaller Newtonian configurations into first-class astrographs. - Page 145, Section 14.4, the book omits to mention that Ross-type correctors can be used in conjunction with hyperboloidal primary mirrors, resulting in anastigmatic flat-field astrographs (offered by Takahashi of Japan). Since full-aperture correctors are not practical for large Newtonian-like configurations, vast number of amateurs with telescopes larger than 10-inches in diameter could convert their instruments to high quality astrocameras. Suitable correctors, other than the Ross, have also been investigated and implemented on existing observatory Newtonian systems. Availability of their design and analysis would be of paramount importance to serious amateur observers and astrophotographers. Mladen K. Vranjican

Secrets of the Stones: New Revelations of Astro-Archaeology and the Mystical Sciences of Antiquity

John Michell

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Editorial Review:

From the temples of Egypt to the stone circles of Britain, Michell traces the development of the science of astro-archaeology.

Introductory Astronomy Exercises

Dale C. Ferguson

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Editorial Review:

Ferguson's flexible and useful INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY EXERCISES, Second Edition, provides readers with laboratory exercises that are well-tested, current, and flexible to individual needs. These labs have a variety of origins and authors, and bring a broad range of activity to the introductory astronomy lab. Most require only inexpensive equipment. INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY EXERCISES, Second Edition, gives readers practical experience with the things they only read about in their book, such as using a telescope and CCD photography. Ferguson groups the exercises together by whether they deal with the solar system or stars and other objects beyond the solar system. Three introductory exercises on using telescopes, viewing constellations and the Celestial Sphere, and using numbers in science set the stage and help readers overcome anxiety. A combination of indoor and outdoor labs allows for adjustments due to weather conditions.

Prehistoric Astronomy in the Southwest

J. McKim Malville, Claudia Putnam

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

With an Eye to the Sky 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Malville and Putnam bring an interesting and informative study with "Prehistoric Astronomy in the Southwest" (1993). As a means of understanding the now long disappeared life of the ancient Anasazi people the authors review several southwestern prehistoric Native American sites from an astronomy viewpoint.

With an eye to the sky, Malville and Putnam study Chaco Canyon (New Mexico), Hovenweep (Utah), Chimney Rock (New Mexico) Yellow Jacket (Utah), and Mesa Verde (Colorado), to form the basis of their scientific conclusions. The authors talk about the similarities and differences between each archaeological site. They make several informed suggestions about corner windows (page 35), sunrooms (page 39), the significance of carved spirals on cliff dwelling walls (page 44), ancient Anasazi male and female industry (page 52), T-shaped doorways (page 92), and much more. They think Anasazi life was continuously influenced by celestial activity and portents.

Proving conclusively that the ancients were fervent sky watchers, Malville and Putnam consider the subterranean Kiva, found at nearly all Anasazi locations, to be the principal astronomical symbol. This community central structure may have represented the center of the ancient cosmos. Much of Anasazi belief and living pattern may have focused around what happened in the Kiva as representative for what was seen in the sky.

Although this book is small (108 total paperback pages) its science is well documented (with 6 pages of endnotes). It offers dozens of black and white photos, sky charts, maps and illustrations (of particular interest is page 14's illustrated method for using a gnomon to locate "true north").

This is a very good book. It inspired family tours to most of its study locations (Yellow Jacket is unaccessible to the general public). Malville and Putnam is a must read for all students of the southwest, ancient astronomy buffs, and students of Native American archaeology. Amazon.com's price is good. Get your copy soon.

Editorial Review:

Archaeoastronomy is a discipline pioneered at Stonehenge and other megalithic sites in Britain and France. Many sites in the southwestern United States have yielded evidence of the prehistoric Anasazi’s intense interest in astronomy, similar to that of the megalithic cultures of Europe.

The authors describe the astronomical alignments at the well-known sites of Chaco Canyon and Hovenweep and present new evidence, based on recent field work of alignments at Yellow Jacket, Chimney Rock, and Mesa Verde.

Drawing on the archaeological evidence, ethnographical parallels with historic pueblo peoples, and mythology from other cultures around the world, the authors present theories about the meaning and function of the mysterious stone alignments and architectural orientations of the prehistoric Southwest.