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- The fascinating history of space-based astronomy
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New Cosmic Horizons: Space Astronomy from the V2 to the Hubble Space Telescope
David Leverington
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Life on Other Worlds: The 20th-Century Extraterrestrial Life Debate
ASIN: 0521658330 |
Book Description
New Cosmic Horizons tells the extraordinary story of space-based astronomy since the Second World War. Starting with the launch of the V2 rocket in 1946, this book explores the triumphs of space experiments and spacecraft designs and the amazing astronomical results that they have produced. David Leverington examines the fascinating way in which the changing political imperatives of the United States, USSR/Russia and Western Europe have modified their space astronomy programs. He covers all major astronomy missions of the first fifty years of space research: the Soviet Sputnik and American Explorer projects, the subsequent race to the moon, solar and planetary missions, and the wonders of modern astrophysics culminating in the exciting results of the Hubble Space Telescope. Extensively illustrated, New Cosmic Horizons offers amateur and professional astronomers an unusual perspective on the history of astronomy in our time. David Leverington was Design Manager of the GEOS Spacecraft and Meteosat Program Manager for ESA in the 1970s. During his tenure as Engineering Director at British Aerospace in the 1980s, he was responsible for the Giotto spacecraft that intercepted Halley's comet, and the Photon Detector Assembly and solar arrays for the Hubble Space Telescope. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He lives in Essex, England.
Customer Reviews:
The fascinating history of space-based astronomy.......2001-09-12
In New Cosmic Horizons: Space Astronomy From The V2 To The Hubble Space Telescope, David Leverington reveals the fascinating history of space-based astronomy from the launching of the V! rocket in 1946 down to the present day. Here are all the triumphs of the space experiments and spacecraft designs that have produced the spectacular astronomical results in the last half of the twentieth century. Profusely illustrated and with a comprehensive, "reader friendly" text ideal for both astronomy students, astronomy professionals, and the interested non-specialist general reader, New Cosmic Horizons will prove to be an essential, core addition to any personal, academic or community library reference collection.
Customer Reviews:
Binocular fun.......2007-09-24
I have been using Binocular Highlights for about three months. It is exactly what I have been looking for!
Where I live, Western Washington State, star gazing is often thwarted by clouds and rain. So using a telescope is often more trouble that it is worth. But, a quick venture into the mist with binoculars; now this made sense to me. However, I needed advice on which binoculars would be good to use and a manageable list of things to look for with binoculars. This is when, like a stroke of good luck, this neat, well written and very handy booklet, Binocular Highlights, was placed into my hands. I used the author, Gary Seronik's recommendation and bought a pair of Canon Image Stabilized binoculars. And have had a great time going through the pages of his book and successfully finding most of the objects listed. I am thoroughly pleased.
I can recommend this book to anyone with a general interest in astronomy or for someone who is just looking for something easier to use than a full blown telescope.
This book opened up a whole new world of astronomy to me.......2007-07-04
It was late one night a couple of weeks ago. I had been observing Jupiter and four of her moons with my Orion 90 mm refractor for several minutes when I felt the stiffness arch up my back into my neck. I'm in good shape for a guy in his early 40s, but still I'm more prone to aches and pains than when I was a younger man. Then I brushed against the scope tube and spent several minutes finding the planet once more. The cost was sore muscles along my spine and that inevitable thought: "there has to be a better way to do astronomy than this!"
Anyone who has ever used a telescope for any length of time at all can relate to the story above. That is why I am so happy to have discovered this book.
Don't know anything about binoculars? No problem. Seronik tells you how they work and what kind are best for astronomy. In fact, I must caution you now to NOT BUY A PAIR OF BINOCULARS FOR ASTRONOMY UNTIL YOU READ THIS BOOK. The insights it gives kept me from making a very expensive mistake!
I had a pair of Meade 12x50s stashed away in a closet which turned out to be more than up to the job.
After covering how binoculars work and what kind to use for stargazing, Seronik takes the reader on a tour of many splendid deep sky objects perfect for the binocular user. Believe it or not, there is plenty of stuff up there that looks incredible when seen through their wide field of view and low magnification.
This book is user friendly from cover to cover. It's not padded with needless fluff or technical details incomprehensible to the average person. However, it is written in an engaging, friendly style that makes it a delight to read.
All in all I am very satisfied with this book and recommend it enthusiastically to everyone interested in stargazing.
Binocular highlights.......2007-05-13
I am very satisfied with the book. It has the information I was looking for.
Great Book.......2007-05-13
This is an excellent book for both beginner and veteran observer alike. Charts are well marked and use actual star photos and not drawings as some books. The advice given on the best choice of binoculars to use is especially helpful to those just starting out. The selection of targets is varied and will in some cases prove a real challenge especially to the new observer but persistance will pay off in many enjoyable hours under the stars. Highly recommended !
Great Binocular Primer.......2007-03-09
For those unfamiliar with astronomical use of binoculars, this is the guide for you.
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Astronomy Before the Telescope
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0312154070 |
Book Description
iSeen | Unseen/i is a deep, richly illustrated, and erudite analysis of the interconnections between science and the visual arts. Martin Kemp explores the responses of artists, scientists, and their instruments, to the world - ranging from early representations of perspective, to pinhole cameras, particle accelerators and the Hubble telescope. From Leonardo, Durer, and the inventors of photography to contemporary sculptors, and from Galileo and Darwin to Stephen J. Gould, Kemp considers the way in which scientists and artists have perceived the world and responded to its patterns, and sees common 'structural intuitions' reflected in their work.
Customer Reviews:
Art & Science, Friends for Life.......2007-09-30
Please don't be put off by the Introduction. Keep reading; you'll be glad you did. The Intro seemed (to me) to be an extreme example of the overly precise elaboration of subtle(!) nuances that readers of scholarly writings learn to tolerate because we NEED the information buried - somewhere - within. But as soon as he moved away from trying to explain himself (his intentions, his book), and moved onto his topic, the writing began to flow. It became a wonderful opportunity to "listen" while an expert mused upon the historical intertwinement of the evolution(s) of art (his field) and science (one he has bothered to learn quite a lot about) ... and their apparent interdependence. He claims interest only in the varied uses of visual experience, but not in the currently-popular reconciliation of art and science. Yet, page by page, I found myself developing clearer understanding of why so many thinkers are feeling driven to try to reconcile these realms of activity that are often contrasted in ways that demean one or the other. Similarly, he shows no particular interest in a third currently-popular realm that I expected to find treated, our evolving brain and its wiring &/or activity. But he has made it easier for someone who does have this interest to write the next book in what could become a "series."
Book Description
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.
Customer Reviews:
A Rare and Fabulous Book About a Mind-Boggling Telescope.......2007-04-28
I've been fascinated with the 200" Hale telescope on Mt Palomar since I read "The Glass Giant of Palomar" as kid. "The Perfect Machine" meets the highest standard you can apply to a non-fiction book--it reads like a novel. Not only does it correct the many errors and omissions of "The Glass Giant of Palomar," but it weaves interleaving stories in a fscinating and riveting way. There's the story of the glass blank of Pyrex and the difficulties casting it, the extraordinary vision of George Ellery Hale, and even the Surrier Truss design first used on this telescope tube. Then there is the site selection, constuction problems, and most of all a vivid portrait of the personalities involved in the construction of this giant. It is even more mind-boggling to realize that all this happened in the first few decades of the 20th century!
After reading this book I finally made my pilgrammage to Mt. Palomar to view the monster for myself. Knowing the details of the telescope's construction added even more to the sense of awe I felt standing in the visitor's gallery gazing in disbelief at this huge, huge machine, and knowing all the discoveries made with it over the years. It was an incredible experience. No photograph of the Hale telescope does it justice.
This is an extraordinary book.
The story of the Palomar telescope and its predecessors.......2004-07-09
I purchased this book at the telescope gift shop on Mount Palomar back in 1996. I read it in the next few days. It is the fascinating tale of George Hale, a remarkable man who had to battle personal demons (in the form of debilitating mental breakdowns) to build the world's largest telescope--then do it again and again! I can't remember the first one offhand, but the 100-inch Hooker Telescope on Mt. Wilson was next, then the 200-inch Hale telescope on Mt. Palomar. This book talks about all the technical, financal and other difficulties that were overcome to make the giant telescope possible. It explains large earlier telescopes and how the problems encountered in their construction provided lessons for the designers and builders of the Palomar telescope. Anyone interested in the history of technology or astronomy should give this book a look.
I bought it for my father.......2003-10-10
I have no trouble pinpointing the splendid-ness of this book. All I have to do is mutate a cliche and say that "the angel is in the details." Florence's full, dramatic account of the various attempts to create the mirror for this enormous telescope -- first by General Electric and then by Corning -- is worth many times the price of admission. What you get is an exciting story of engineering hurdles met, overcome, and sometimes not overcome ... I am not an engineer, but probably should have been one. My father _was_ an engineer and, while reading this book, decided he would probably find it enthralling, and I was right.
Florence is such a careful and masterful writer, that this tale of seemingly-insurmountable obstacles and struggles should appeal to anyone. He makes molten glass come to life. Bravo. One of the better books I've read in the past 5 years - and I read a lot.
A nearly perfect book about a nearly perfect machine.......2003-07-02
Not only does Ronald Florence give a vibrant account of the design and construction of the Hale telescope, he manages to make the reader share his fascination for an admirable project and an awe-inspiring science machine. The book is better than well written, it is captivating. Having been closely involved in a major telescope project, I can only state that his account of the production of the "giant eye" rings true. Rarely has a science writer shown so much understanding of the intricate processes, technologies, and human relations underlying a large science project. Still, there are a few disturbing inaccuracies in Florence's story. On a number of occasions, the author wrongly gives credit to the Palomar telescope designers for innovations that had been experimented long before, such as the principle of the support of the primary mirror, actually due to Lassel (Malta, 1861). The account of the in-situ finishing of the primary mirror sounds completely implausible, the metrology of the time (I saw the Hartmann screen on the occasion of a privileged visit in 1995) being of too low resolution to allow any meaningful verification of local refiguring as reported by Florence. The post-1950 period would also have deserved a somewhat broader and fairer account; the Russian 6-m may not have been a success comparable to the Palomar but paved the way for modern mechanical designs, and the advent of entirely new and far-reaching concepts, such as active optics, in the hands of European designers and suppliers is completely ignored. Still, the vision and the endeavour underlying the making of the Palomar telescope emanate from every page; it is a nearly perfect book about a nearly perfect machine.
A fine rendering of a historic achievement.......2002-09-04
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.
Book Description
When people knew the earth was flat and it was the center of the universe, all life revolved around that truth. Galileo's telescope changed the truth. And with that one change, all architecture, music, literature, science, politics -- everything changed, mirroring the new view of truth. This tape is James Burke's examination of the moments in history when a change in knowledge radically altered man's understanding of himself and the world around him.Few people are able to look at human history and see it not as a jumble of half-remembered names and dates, but as an intricate mosaic of neatly interlocking pieces. Fewer still can describe the patterns and explain the parts of the puzzle so that it not only makes sense, but so that it also fascinates and intrigues, excited and entertains. James Burke tells history like it's the plot of the most interesting mystery ever written.
Customer Reviews:
Title of book: "Changed the truth"??? .......2007-07-08
Just a comment about the title of this book...."changed the truth?"....Well, truth never, never, never "changes"....beliefs do, though. Galileo's telescope did not change the truth, but changed beliefs....big difference. The truth of a round earth was always true, whether people believed it or not. Galileo's telescope changed beliefs and understandings about the absolute truth of a round Earth.
Say, consider the resurrection of Jesus Christ.....we may believe it or we may not, but the truth remains the same, that it actually did happen....the truth is the truth, regardless of what we believe....as for me, I choose to believe in solid truths, like a round Earth and the resurrection of Jesus, the latter making an eternal difference.
One Of The Better.......2006-09-25
Burke has a way of making history, science, and
the human condition fun while telling you something
that makes you think about it.
The Day The Universe Changed shows, as Burke has
become known for, connections between many aspects
of human life, the universe, and those odd, sometimes
silly bits of everyday life.
James Burke is one of the better popularizers of science,
his prolific works (all the while being the consumate "geek"
in big glasses and almost balding) make for, not just fun,
but learning. Great stuff, and even better for kids who
will appreciate his quickness and ability to get to the point.
The evolution of change........2006-03-29
This review is based on the first American edition, which was published as a companion to the PBS program, "The Day the Universe Changed". I am assuming that the book is identical with the original British edition.
This is another in the series of excellent popular science and technology books by James Burke. The title is a little misleading, though, in that it does not deal with a specific day, rather with the overturning of paradigms (although the term paradigm is never used in the text). The book is lavishly illustrated, in the mold of the books that are companions to PBS series. (In this regard, I do not know if the original edition is also as lavishly illustrated.)
Each chapter begins with a view of the world before "The Day the Universe Changed", for instance, a world in which the sun revolves around the earth and the sun, moon, planets and stars each reside on Celestial Spheres. The book then shows how this view was changed by the observations of Copernicus, Tycho Brahe and Kepler, then how Galileo and then Newton synthesized this data into a new view of the heavens. The same sort of approach is given to chemistry, medicine, geology, biology and other fields. The main theme of the book is that the view of the universe is not static. While Newton's view of light prevailed for over 200 years, it was eventually changed by Einstein. The book shows how the retrieval of the philosophy of the Greeks from the Arabs started these changes. It shows how many factors interact, for instance and how the development of perspective drawing and printing affected the development of science.
The last chapter of the book is the most thought provoking. It proposes that there is no objective truth, but that what we see as truth is actually a construct of the current structure of thought and that "truth is relative" to this structure. The "truth" of an earth-centered universe was framed by the prevailing structure of reality. When this structure was changed by the development of experimental data and scientific thought, the view of the universe changed, but Burke maintains there is no basis to believe that the "scientific" view is any more valid. "The truth is relative." Fortunately, one can skip this chapter and view this book as a history of the evolution of the ideas of physics, chemistry, geology and biology, which it is.
In view of the current controversy over intelligent design, the chapter on the changes in the geological interpretation of the earth and how it spawned the theory of evolution is particularly enlightening. It draws into clearer perspective why the theory of evolution and the geological view of an earth that is billions of years old is such a threat to the paradigm believed by fundamental Christians.
Nothing Less Than The History Of How Rational Thinkers Advanced The Human Race.......2005-09-23
James Burke's book traces history backward and conceives of progress as a series of brillant achievements that create in their influence outstretching ripples that set off the strides humans have made throughout time. The witty Burke explores these watershed moments that took humanity forward, each setting others in motion, crafting a ladder upon which, rung leading to rung, our species has reached the places where it is today. Several key thinkers are focused upon and certain events, some overlooked by popular history, are highlighted. This book makes for an enlightening and mentally-provocative study of the achievements of the human past.
A great Book on the history of Technology.......2005-04-30
After you read this book, you will look at the world in a whole new way.It outlines on how random the pace of discovery of new ideas and technology really is. If you want to be really challenged intellecually, then go no further. Mr. Burke has done an outstanding job. I just wish that I could afford the DVD that is based on this book.
Book Description
In the four centuries since its invention, the telescope has transformed how humans view the universe and their place in it. But what do most of us know about telescopes themselves--their history, how they work, what they are being used for today, or what the next generation of billion-dollar telescopes will look like? In The Telescope, Geoff Andersen fills in all the details for us in an accessible, nontechnical way that will appeal to the amateur astronomer and anyone else who has been more than a little curious about this amazing instrument.
The book covers every aspect of optical telescopes--from the humblest backyard setup, to state-of-the-art observatories, to the Hubble Space Telescope and spy satellites. Chapters describe the development, design, and operation of telescopes; how observatories are sited, engineered, and built; variations such as solar and liquid-mirror telescopes; and some of the key astronomical discoveries telescopes have made possible. And there are plenty of surprises along the way. We learn, for example, that most of today's professional astronomers never even look through their own telescopes, relying instead on digital imaging, measurement, and analysis--or even remote computer control of a night-shrouded observatory on the other side of the Earth.
But, as The Telescope explains, these magnificent instruments do more than simply peer into space. They project and receive laser beams--for communicating, mapping, and making detailed observations of the Earth. They also look down at us from spy satellites, providing secret images to intelligence agencies--and, increasingly, giving a curious public access to more pedestrian images.
The Telescope is the ideal introduction to a fascinating instrument that has taught us so much--but that most of us know so little about.
Customer Reviews:
Detailed, Authoritative and Absolutely Brilliant.......2007-09-26
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.
But for whom?.......2007-06-24
This is an odd book. It was written by an Aussie who now works at the US Air Force Academy. It was originally published in Australia and New Zealand, then republished by Princeton University Press. And I can't figure out who the target reader is.
It is a short book, a bit over 200 pages, broken up into short chapters with magazine article level treatments of various subjects. Despite its brevity, there are many times the author claims he could write so much more if he only had the space. He often alludes to being much more knowledgeable than the reader, yet some of the chapters don't quite get it right, and others give the impression he is simply digesting what he has read in other popular treatments.
He spends a few pages on astronomy before telescopes, then a few pages on the early history of the telescope. Both subjects are covered in more detail in many texts and popular astronomy books. These are followed by a brief sketch of how different types of telescopes work from a geometrical optics standpoint, and then a chapter called "The perfect telescope", which is really a very short, very introductory discussion of diffraction. A chapter with the cute but misleading title "When good telescopes go bad" then discusses why real telescopes can't be built to perform as well as reading a few page article on telescopes would suggest. (Aberrations and all that.)
Andersen then moves into the sensors that record what the telescope is looking at. One chapter skims over cameras, spectrometers, photometers, and polarimeters. He then has a chapter on interferometry. While written at roughly the high school physics level, it starts with the warning "While interferometry is the next big thing for telescopes, it is a complex subject, so some readers may want to skip over the material." I doubt many people would make it this far into the book without being able to understand the very basic treatment that follows.
The cute title "So you want to build an observatory?" briefly covers the difficulty of building a large mirror, choosing a site, and the mechanical engineering of a large device. These appear to be topics he wanted in the book but didn't know where to put them. Next we are in space with the Hubble Space Telescope. If you don't know the history of how they screwed up the primary mirror this includes a relatively good brief history. But the overall history of Hubble here is thin, and there are better treatments.
He's then off on "Advanced telescope techniques", which covers lightweighting, active optics, segmented primaries, adaptive optics, and laser guide stars. But what is on offer is a series of vignettes thrown together rather than integrated into the areas where they enable telescope advancement.
Next come a couple of chapters on applications other than astronomy for telescopes. Laser communication and remote sensing are tossed together in the first. The very first sentence claims "Telescopes are instruments for gathering and intensifying light." Telescopes concentrate light; "intensify" means something else. The next page claims "This increased waveform complexity (called bandwidth) ...". Complexity and bandwidth are different things. You can transmit a very simple signal at very high bandwidth (for example, a sine wave), or a very complex signal at very low bandwidth (for example, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony). (In the latter case you won't be enjoying the music in real time, but you can transmit it at low bandwidth with suitable patience. And for those old enough to remember, an LP is a pretty low bandwidth medium.)
The surveillance section is truly odd. Andersen has apparently surfed the internet and applied flights of fancy to imagine what US spy satellites can do. While it is possible that his speculation about satellite capability is correct (although it seems far fetched), his assertion that such a satellite's altitude has "a reasonable value of 200 km" is hard to swallow. At that altitude there is enough residual atmospheric drag that nothing stays up very long. He finishes the surveillance section with laser weapons. Yes, they use telescopes. But I don't see how they are tied to surveillance.
Next comes another mishmash called "Non-traditional observatories". First he talks about liquid mirror telescopes, which fit the title. But then he goes into solar telescopes which are, to my thinking, quite traditional. He mentions observations back to 1609, and includes a picture of a dedicated solar telescope (the 150 ft tower on Mt Wilson) finished in 1912! After explaining that the "emphasis of this book has been on optical telescopes, as the extension into other parts of the spectrum would constitute an overwhelming amount of subject matter", he then describes observing the Cherenkov radiation caused by high energy gamma rays entering the atmosphere. I suppose it can at least be argued that conventional telescopes are used for this purpose. But this is followed with a discussion of detecting gravity waves! Gravity waves aren't even light, although the detectors do use laser interferometry to (it is hoped) detect them. There is no room in his short book to discuss radio or x-ray telescopes at all, but he finds room for gravity wave detection? I think he just writes about what interests him, which is his prerogative, just don't expect a complete or rigorous coverage of "The Telescope".
He concludes with brief discussions of some recent discoveries in astronomy and some future telescope projects.
While there are some interesting bits to this book, there is no unified story. There are also some things he doesn't quite get right. On the other hand, I can't think of another book that gives a better short introduction to the topics he choses to cover. There are certainly better books on astronomical telescopes, but they give little or no coverage to other uses for telescopes. Andersen's coverage is nether very complete nor always accurate, but it is another viewpoint. I didn't personally learn much from this book, but some readers might. Just approach with caution.
Fascinating, wide-reaching, and full of information.......2007-06-19
More than a few amateur astronomers- and I count myself in the group- find nearly as much fascination with the hardware of astronomy and space exploration as they do with the actual viewing. A good fraction of my library is taken over by books on telescope construction, the history of telescopes, testing optics, ray tracing and so forth.
Here's a fascinating and delightful book that is a bit different than the typical book about telescopes. It's written for the educated reader, who isn't afraid to see a little algebra, or some ray tracing diagrams, and because of that it's far more informative and useful than the typical all-about book that tries to explain everything by metaphor. There's historical material, exellent explanations of topics like how achromatic and apochromatic lenses work, telescope technologies used in astronomy, satellites, and elsewhere, and future technologies- spinning mirrors, liquid mirrors and other cutting-edge (and some yet untried) techniques.
It's not just limited to telescopes used in astronomy, either. There's material on terrestrial telescopes, surveillence satellites, industrial appplications and more.
This volume is hIghly recommended for technology junkies, fans of the history of technology, those interested in aerospace, and anyone who is looking for something short of a college text on optics that does a good job of really explaining how optics work.
Book Description
The fascinating tale of one of the most remarkable inventions in human history and its effects on science, myth, religion, manners, and the arts.
Of all human inventions, the mirror is perhaps the one most closely connected to our own consciousness. As our first technology for contemplation of the self, the mirror is arguably as important an invention as the wheel. Mirror Mirror is the fascinating story of the mirror's invention, refinement, and use in an astonishing range of human activities--from the fantastic mirrored rooms that wealthy Romans created for their orgies to the mirror's key role in the use and understanding of light.
Pendergrast spins tales of the 2,500-year mystery of whether Archimedes and his "burning mirror" really set faraway Roman ships on fire; the medieval Venetian glassmakers, who perfected the technique of making large, flat mirrors from clear glass and for whom any attempt to leave their cloistered island was punishable by death; Isaac Newton, whose experiments with sunlight on mirrors once left him blinded for three days; the artist David Hockney, who holds controversial ideas about Renaissance artists and their use of optical devices; and George Ellery Hale, the manic-depressive astronomer and telescope enthusiast who inspired (and gave his name to) the twentieth century's largest ground-based telescope. Like mirrors themselves, Mirror Mirror is a book of endless wonder and fascination.
Customer Reviews:
Just Pendergrast.......2004-07-28
As he did with his history of coffee, Pendergrast once again grasps the influence of one item in human history and, thus, modern society. His grasp of the scientific phenomennon involvig mirrors, and the importance of the study of light in modern science, the relativisti theory, etc. makes this book a more than complete insight into human history, "Through the Looking Glass".
I value Pendergrast's books for the perspective they provide to history, and the way he manages to make the whole subject entertaining. This book is not only educative in history and science, but also an easy read.
A fascinating book.......2003-11-20
Mark Pendergrast has a talent for writing about a complex subject and making it both understandable and entertaining. Having read his most recent book, Mirror Mirror, I am impressed with the author's versatility and research capability. In writing about the mirror, Pendergrast has explored its history and use in religion, magic, science, art, space exploration, as well as an item of vanity and self indulgence. He has presented his findings in a way that is both enjoyable and educational. The people written about range from early scientists such as Archimedes and Galileo to the modern researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
The New York Times Book Review, which led me to purchase Mirror Mirror, states that it is the equivalent of a liberal arts education. I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. Give Mirror Mirror a 5-star rating.
Reflections on Mirror Mirror.......2003-11-18
Mirror, Mirror is a fascinating read not only for those lovers of the technical but also for those more interested in human history--as I am. Pendergrast explains scientific and technical concepts clearly. What I particularly loved about the book--besides learning a great deal about the history of science--was the way he wove in the human story. Pendergrast makes names like Herschel and Newton come alive as real people with distinct personalities. Reading a book of such quality and scope is my favorite way of learning about history and science.
A Wonderful Reflection on a Fascinating Subject.......2003-11-18
As an artist and a psychotherapist-in-training, this book appealed to me on many levels. It's a well-researched investigation of the history of mirroring and mirror-making, the mystical and the everyday practical use of mirrors, the psychological dimensions, etc. The story of the importance of mirrors in the history of the telescope, and mankind's resultant ability to investigate the cosmos is comprehensively presented. Dense and technical in places, but fun and insightful in others. Worth the read just to get to the last chapter titled, "Final Reflections: Illusions and Realities".
A nice addition to a sparse literature!!!.......2003-11-17
As a person somewhat 'expert' in mirror research (see Keenan et al., The Face in the Mirror: The Search for the Origins of Consciousness), I am always on the lookout for solid research on the topic of mirrors. Mark Pendergrast has put together a great book on the topic. This is the most comprehensive title that one can buy if interested in the history of mirrors.
His reserach is pretty amazing. Even though I have researched the topic for years, I still learned a tremendous amount reading this book. It is noted that Mark Pendergrast makes the reading entertaining. A nice surprise.
Thumbs up all the way...
Julian Paul Keenan
Book Description
This remarkable history encompasses not only the achievements of the early inventors and astronomers but also the less frequently recounted stories of the instrument makers and of the actual instruments. A model of unsurpassed, comprehensive scholarship, this volume covers many fields, including professional and amateur astronomy. 196 black-and-white illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
A classic reference, but a bit dry..........2005-09-20
After 50 years, this still probably packs more historical fact in one place than any other book on the history of telescopes. But it's also dry reading. Great for the serious amateur, but not for the casual reader. If you're looking for an entertaining historical account, that includes the politics and personalites behind the telescopes in addition to the dryer facts, try Fred Watson's new book, Stargazer: The Life and Times of the Telescope.
A somewhat dated reprint , but still excellent!.......2004-01-22
This is a case where the title pretty much says it all. This is a reprint of Henry C. King's classic , originally published in 1955.
The time span covers pretty much the beginnings of visual astronomy through the Mount Palomar 200" Hale telescope. A particularly interesting era is the 18th century , with many notable advances made in glass manufacture and beginning of very large reflecting telescopes in the hands of Sir William Herschel. As the author moves into the 19th century , the names of Joseph Fraunhofer and Alvan Clark take center stage.
The invention of many other auxilliary astronomical instruments are also included in this fine work.
There aren't many other works for comparison , so --- 5 stars!
Book Description
Publication of Galileo's Starry Messenger in 1610, detailing startling observations with the newly invented telescope, sparked immediate furor among the astronomers and philosophers of the day. The discovery of the "Medicean stars" (the satellites of Jupiter) was pronounced a hoax, an optical illusion, a logical and theological impossibility. Stillman Drake, one of the world's foremost Galileo scholars, recreates in Telescopes, Tides, and Tactics the fascinating aftermath of the publication of the Starry Messenger. Drawing on Galileo's scientific working papers and the letters and notebooks of his colleagues, Drake presents an imaginative Galilean dialogue using the text of the Starry Messenger as a departure point for discussions of appropriate scientific method, new discoveries, and the emergence of a new world view at this early stage of the Scientific Revolution.
Drake has revised his earlier abridged translation of the Starry Messenger, and for the first time the entire work is presented here in modern English. No other edition or translation of this famous work has analyzed Galileo's recorded observations in detail, compared them with modern calculations, or explained the later use he made of them. In the accompanying fictional dialogue, Salviati, Sagredo, and Sarpi reread the Starry Messenger in 1613 and discuss events and issues raised in the three years since its publication. Much of the dialogue is based on archival materials not previously cited in English. Drake has unearthed a wealth of information that will interest the lay reader as well as the historian and the scientist—descriptions of the various and occasionally bizarre critics of Galileo, a reconstruction of Galileo's promised book on the system of the world, his tables of observations and calculations of satellite motions, and evidence for an early tide theory. It was this theory explaining tides by motions of the earth, rather than the influence of Platonic metaphysics, Drake argues that played a major role in Galileo's acceptance of Copernican astronomy.
Telescopes, Tides, and Tactics is a thorough portrait of Galileo as a working astronomer. Offering much more than a commentary on the Starry Messenger, Drake has written a novel and absorbing contribution to the history of physics and astronomy and the study of the Scientific Revolution.
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