The fascination of telescopes

Geoff Andersen

This superb book provides easy-to-understand factual information about all aspects of the telescope – their history, development and operation – as well as an exciting glimpse into the future. It offers a clear explanation of how telescopes work and why the costs for building them can aptly be described as astronomical.

In addition to the telescope’s role in conventional astronomy, Dr Andersen describes telescopes used during the day (solar observatories), for detecting ripples in the fabric of space-time (gravitational wave detectors), and even for gathering extra-galactic particles (neutrino and gamma-ray observatories). He also discusses other uses for telescopes such as lidar, optical communications and space surveillance. The latter is something of great interest to the average reader, and he answers the most common question: Just what can spy satellites see from space?

CELEBRATING FOUR CENTURIES OF ASTRONOMY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Geoff Andersen has been a research associate with the Laser and Optics Research Center at the United States Air Force Academy for the past nine years. He has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Adelaide, Australia and over 15 years’ research and teaching experience in the areas of lasers, holography, lidar and optical systems design. Dr Andersen has four patents pending and is the primary author of over 25 journal papers and conference proceedings. He has worked on projects for various agencies including the United States Air Force, National Reconnaissance Office and NASA.

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Reviews

“Will be appreciated by laypersons and experts for its clarity and, in places the insight it provides into the optics, engineering and, indeed, scientific purposes and limitations of telescopes…

Andersen’s fine piece of work is enlightening and interesting. Experts can dispense with a few chapters that beginners will find useful, along with the appendices on mathematical notation, electromagnetic radiation, and "Getting your own telescope". The text flows smoothly, enhanced by vivid discussion and pedagogical flair. And the author’s take on remote sensing and surveillance confers a unique feature that will fascinate readers.”  Nature Magazine August 07

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SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 234 x 153mm
Format: cased with jacket
Extent: 248 pages
Photographs throughout
Weight: 700 gms
First published: November 2006
ISBN: 978-0-908988-82-2