This book offers an overview of the history of the telescope which burst onto the world stage four centuries ago. It traces the development from its invention in the Netherlands in 1608 to its everyday usage in the modern world, both on earth and beyond. Along the way we enter the world of the innovators and adventurers who helped shape the story, discovering how Galileo used the telescope to create his reputation as one of the great scientists of all times, what Isaac Newton was doing with arsenic and why the most advanced telescopes owe so much to the science of spying. But the real excitement in this book lies in the less familiar stories; you should expect to find out about the dangers of termites, some imaginative uses of a well . . . and a Model T Ford. The important development of the telescope as a modest hand-held device, and its impact on culture and society is covered with as much enthusiasm and interest as the well-known stories of scientific ingenuity. · Published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the telescope · Written by the curator of the history of navigation at the National Maritime Museum · First book to examine the social and cultural impact of the telescope, as well as the technological developments
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The telescope s long evolution to massive radio arrays on Earth and Hubble in space is stylishly narrated in this beautifully produced and illustrated book --The Guardian
A simple instrument, at least to begin with, that transformed our perception of the world . . . and beyond. Richard Dunn's brief history of the Telescope is, quite literally, eye-opening. --Classic FM
A simple instrument, at least to begin with, that transformed our perception of the world . . . and beyond. Richard Dunn's brief history of the Telescope is, quite literally, eye-opening. --Classic FM
About the Author
Richard Dunn trained as a historian of science and has published on subjects including navigation, astrology, scientific instruments and museums. As Curator of the History of Navigation at the National Maritime Museum, he currently works in a superb office in the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.
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Good, brief, non-technical, history of the telescope
23 Oct 2011
By Ursiform
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This attractive little book, first published by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich in 2009, has now been re-released in the US as well as the UK. After a brief discussion of astronomy before the telescope, Dunn moves us briskly from the invention of the telescope to the huge instruments of today, then briefly touches on other types of astronomy, such as radio astronomy, and what the future might hold.
As befits a book for the general reader, Dunn intersperses sections on both the non-astronomical adoption of telescopes--think, in particular, sailors--and on public reaction to astronomical discoveries. There are amusing as well as serious illustrations. The level of technical detail doesn't go much beyond the difference between a convex and a concave lens and the basic configurations of different telescopes. While my ideal book on telescopes would be far more technical, this book wasn't written for someone like me. This is the best book on the telescope for a general audience I've encountered.
I would like to add a little information on the invention of the telescope. Dunn notes that the idea of the telescope predates its putative inventor, Hans Lipperhey (Lippershey in some references). He suggests Lipperhey deserves credit for being the first to realize the "device's possibilities". I consider that unlikely. People wanted to make a telescope work because they knew it would be useful. Rolf Willach has written a monograph arguing that Lipperhey's real breakthrough was the invention of the aperture mask: The Long Route to the Invention of the Telescope. Galileo is known to have used aperture masks, and some earlier sources suggested that it was his invention. (Dunn mentions aperture masks on page 37, but is vague on when they first appeared.)
Another aside: One of the major figures in the book is William Hershel, who was a musician and composer before becoming an astronomer. You might enjoy listening to his music while you read this book: Herschel: Symphonies.
As befits a book for the general reader, Dunn intersperses sections on both the non-astronomical adoption of telescopes--think, in particular, sailors--and on public reaction to astronomical discoveries. There are amusing as well as serious illustrations. The level of technical detail doesn't go much beyond the difference between a convex and a concave lens and the basic configurations of different telescopes. While my ideal book on telescopes would be far more technical, this book wasn't written for someone like me. This is the best book on the telescope for a general audience I've encountered.
I would like to add a little information on the invention of the telescope. Dunn notes that the idea of the telescope predates its putative inventor, Hans Lipperhey (Lippershey in some references). He suggests Lipperhey deserves credit for being the first to realize the "device's possibilities". I consider that unlikely. People wanted to make a telescope work because they knew it would be useful. Rolf Willach has written a monograph arguing that Lipperhey's real breakthrough was the invention of the aperture mask: The Long Route to the Invention of the Telescope. Galileo is known to have used aperture masks, and some earlier sources suggested that it was his invention. (Dunn mentions aperture masks on page 37, but is vague on when they first appeared.)
Another aside: One of the major figures in the book is William Hershel, who was a musician and composer before becoming an astronomer. You might enjoy listening to his music while you read this book: Herschel: Symphonies.
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