Ever since Galileo glimpsed the moons of Jupiter through his tiny
telescope, astronomers have striven to understand how the universe
is constructed and how it evolves. Every increase in the size and
power of telescopes has led to new discoveries. Within the last
century, telescopes have enabled us to learn about pulsars,
quasars, gamma-ray bursters, black holes, and the acceleration of
the universe's expansion.
An Acre of Glass describes how recent innovations in telescope
technology have led to the construction of giant, ground-based
observatories and to an explosive development of astronomy. Today,
telescopes with mirrors 30, 50, and even 100 meters in diameter are
being built. Optical interferometers that cover an acre of ground
are observing every night. J. B. Zirker shows us how telescopes
past, present, and future are built and describes the exciting
science they reveal -- from planets beyond our solar system to
supermassive black holes at the core of distant galaxies.
For every striking image revealed through these enormous
telescopes, technicians and scientists must overcome unique and
incredible challenges. How many pack animals does it take to get a
telescope to the top of a mountain? How do you make the shape of a
6-foot-wide mirror accurate to within a 1,000th the thickness of a
human hair? In clear and accessible language, Zirker answers these
questions and more, providing fascinating technical detail about
how a telescope is made and what the next generation can hope to
see.
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