Synopses & Reviews
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.
Review
"As we approach the International Year of Astronomy, the four-hundredth anniversary of Galileo's turning a telescope on the heavens, Geoff Andersen has produced an interesting book on the centuries' progress in optical observations. Chapters on telescopes used for surveillance and on a series of astronomical discoveries add interest beyond discussions of the telescopes themselves." Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy, Williams Colleg
Review
"As we approach the International Year of Astronomy, the four-hundredth anniversary of Galileo's turning a telescope on the heavens, Geoff Andersen has produced an interesting book on the centuries' progress in optical observations. Chapters on telescopes used for surveillance and on a series of astronomical discoveries add interest beyond discussions of the telescopes themselves." Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy, Williams Colleg
Review
"This book covers both the science of astronomy and the telescope technology that underlies astronomical discoveries. This balance enhances our appreciation of telescopes as engineering marvels, and it increases our understanding of what the operators of these instruments are trying to accomplish." Richard Kron, University of Chicago
Review
"The Telescope is an extensive and thorough look at the telescope in all its modern variants, and the only book like it that I know of. I enjoyed reading it, and I'm sure that many others will too."
Robert J. Vanderbei, Princeton University
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
"As we approach the International Year of Astronomy, the four-hundredth anniversary of Galileo's turning a telescope on the heavens, Geoff Andersen has produced an interesting book on the centuries' progress in optical observations. Chapters on telescopes used for surveillance and on a series of astronomical discoveries add interest beyond discussions of the telescopes themselves."
--Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy, Williams College"This book covers both the science of astronomy and the telescope technology that underlies astronomical discoveries. This balance enhances our appreciation of telescopes as engineering marvels, and it increases our understanding of what the operators of these instruments are trying to accomplish."--Richard Kron, University of Chicago
"The Telescope is an extensive and thorough look at the telescope in all its modern variants, and the only book like it that I know of. I enjoyed reading it, and I'm sure that many others will too."--Robert J. Vanderbei, Princeton University
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
"As we approach the International Year of Astronomy, the four-hundredth anniversary of Galileo's turning a telescope on the heavens, Geoff Andersen has produced an interesting book on the centuries' progress in optical observations. Chapters on telescopes used for surveillance and on a series of astronomical discoveries add interest beyond discussions of the telescopes themselves."--Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy, Williams College
"This book covers both the science of astronomy and the telescope technology that underlies astronomical discoveries. This balance enhances our appreciation of telescopes as engineering marvels, and it increases our understanding of what the operators of these instruments are trying to accomplish."--Richard Kron, University of Chicago
"The Telescope is an extensive and thorough look at the telescope in all its modern variants, and the only book like it that I know of. I enjoyed reading it, and I'm sure that many others will too."--Robert J. Vanderbei, Princeton University
About the Author
Geoff Andersen is a research physicist at the United States Air Force Academy, where he studies telescope and microscope design, holography, and remote sensing. He has worked on projects funded by the U.S. Air Force and NASA.
Table of Contents
Preface 9
Chapter 1: The naked-eye universe 13
Chapter 2: The development of the telescope 25
Chapter 3: How a telescope works 37
Imaging
Refracting telescopes
Reflecting telescopes
Chapter 4: The perfect telescope 44
Diffraction and the perfect image
Resolution limit
Chapter 5: When good telescopes go bad 53
Aberrations
Field of view
Air turbulence
Chapter 6: Analysing the light 66
Imaging devices--the camera
Spectroscopy
Photometry
Polarimetry
Chapter 7: Interferometry 80
Interference--how light waves combine
Michelson interferometer
Michelson stellar interferometer
Imaging interferometry
Nulling interferometry
Chapter 8: So you want to build an observatory? 95
Making a mirror
Site selection
Mechanical engineering
Chapter 9: The Hubble Space Telescope 109
Chapter 10: Advanced telescope techniques 125
Lightweighting
Active optics
Segmented primaries
Adaptive optics
Laser guide stars
Chapter 11: Laser communications and remote sensing 140
Laser communications
Lidar
Chapter 12: Surveillance 149
Airborne surveillance
Space-based surveillance
Other surveillance methods
Laser weapons
Chapter 13: Non-traditional observatories 162
Liquid mirror telescopes
Solar telescopes
Seeing the invisible
Gravitational wave observatories
Chapter 14: Key discoveries 181
The Solar System and Pluto
Comet Halley
The first exo-solar planet
Milky Way black hole
Hubble Ultra-Deep Field
Hoag's Object
Chapter 15: Future telescopes 197
Wide-field wonders
Another pale blue dot
The big boys
One last word 217
Appendix A: Some mathematical basics 220
Appendix B: Electromagnetic radiation 226
Appendix C: Getting your own telescope 233
Notes 236
Bibliography 240
Index 243
Tech Q&A
Read the Tech Q&A with Geoff Andersen