For Further Reading

Isaac Asimov, Eyes on the Universe: A History of Telescopes . Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975. Although best known as a science fiction writer, Asimov has written an excellent history of telescopes that traces the development of optical telescopes from Galileo to design considerations for the Hubble Space Telescope. Asimov explains many of the mysteries such as how Newton built the first reflector and how modern cameras allow astronomers to record the heavens and change their ideas about the size, age, and origins of the cosmos.

Daniel Fisher and Hilmar Duerbeck, Hubble: A New Window to the Universe . New York: Springer-Verlag, 1996. The first part of this book presents a brief historical overview about astronomy, concentrating on telescopes up to the Hubble project. The central and largest portion discusses the Hubble's operations, as well as future plans for the telescope. The highlight of the book is the 150 color photographs of exotic cosmic forms taken by the Hubble telescope.

Simon Goodwin, Hubble's Universe: Portrait of Our Universe . New York: Penguin, 1997. Goodwin provides a short, excellent history about the construction of Hubble, the flawed mirror, and its successful repair. The remainder of the book is composed of a set of fifty full-page superior-quality photographs with accompanying explanations.

Richard Learner, Astronomy Through the Telescope: The 500 Year Story of the Instruments, the Inventors, and Their Discoveries . New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1981. This is an excellent history of astronomy for the amateur stargazer. The author traces the history of telescope development and interlaces stories about the men who built and operated them.

W. Patrick McCray, Giant Telescopes: Astronomical Ambition and the Promise of Technology . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004. McCray has provided a very readable account of large telescopes in the post–World War II era. He explores large telescope astronomy and America's desire to retain leadership against growing competition from Europe and Japan. The book includes discussions of the major large, modern telescopes and tells the story behind their planning and construction.

Thornton Page and Lou Pace, Telescopes: How to Make and Use Them . New York: Macmillan, 1965. This book is a useful primer that explains how several types of telescopes work. The authors describe the components of telescopes and how they are assembled and adjusted for peak performance. Line drawings complement the text.

David O. Woodbury, The Glass Giant of Palomar . New York: Dodd, Mead, 1954. This is a great book for astronomy buffs. The author provides a colorful history of the construction of the observatory and the mirror. The book is a lively mix of technical detail and firsthand fascinating stories about the astronomers, workmen, and technicians.