This is volume 1 of Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems, a six-volume compendium of modern astronomical research, covering subjects of key interest to the main fields of contemporary astronomy. This volume on Telescopes and Instrumentation edited by Ian S. McLean presents, after a general Introduction to Telescopes, accessible review chapters on Robotic and Survey Telescopes, Segmented Mirror Telescopes, Honeycomb Mirrors for Large Telescopes, Active Thin-Mirror Telescopes, Optical and Infrared Interferometers, Submillimeter Telescopes, Radio Telescopes, Space Telescopes in the Ultraviolet, Optical, and Infrared (UV/O/IR), CMB Telescopes and Optical Systems, Very- High-Energy Gamma-Ray Telescopes, Instrumentation and Detectors, Silicon-Based Image Sensors, Long-Wavelength Infrared Detectors, and Astronomical Spectrographs.

All chapters of the handbook were written by practicing professionals. They include sufficient background material and references to the current literature to allow readers to learn enough about a specialty within astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology to get started on their own practical research projects. In the spirit of the series Stars and Stellar Systems published by Chicago University Press in the 1960s and 1970s, each chapter of Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems can stand on its own as a fundamental review of its respective sub-discipline, and each volume can be used as a textbook or recommended reference work for advanced undergraduate or postgraduate courses. Advanced students and professional astronomers in their roles as both lecturers and researchers will welcome Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems as a comprehensive and pedagogical reference work on astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology.

This book reveals the remarkable revolution which has occurred in infrared astronomy in recent years as the result of technology breakthroughs in the development and availability of tiny imaging devices known as arrays'. The book contains the proceedings of a conference at the University of California, Los Angeles in July 1993 at which about 300 participants from all over the world met to discuss the progress and astronomical applications of infrared array detectors. A key feature of the book is the mix of papers describing the detector technology, astronomical instruments or observational methods, with those describing the latest, exciting astrophysical conclusions based on measurements made with the new arrays. In many cases, the images and spectra shown were spectacular, and it was difficult to appreciate that the results were for infrared rather than optical wavelengths. Astronomers, instrument designers and representatives of the infrared detector industry were all present. Reviews of the state-of-the-art in near infrared imaging and spectroscopy and mid-to-far infrared imaging and spectroscopy from ground-based observatories are mixed with reviews of planned space missions such as HST-second generation instruments, ISO, and SIRTF. Prospects for IR astronomy from Antarctica are also described. Finally, the first infrared astronomical science from the 10-m W.M. Keck Telescope is described. Also, numerous astronomical results and new instrumentation ideas are summarized in over 100 poster papers. This book provides an invaluable reference work and an excellent introduction for all astronomers to the rapidly growing field of infrared astronomy. Scientific topics range from studies of solar system objects to galaxies at very high redshifts, and include almost everything in between e.g., star forming regions, the Galactic Center, globular clusters, starburst galaxies and cosmology. Only a few years ago none of these studies would have been possible.

The second edition of Electronic Imaging in Astronomy: Detectors and Instrumentation describes the remarkable developments that have taken place in astronomical detectors and instrumentation in recent years -- from the invention of the charge-coupled device (CCD) in 1970 to the current era of very large telescopes, such as the Keck 10-meter telescopes in Hawaii with their laser guide-star adaptive optics which rival the image quality of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Authored by one of the world s foremost experts on the design and development of electronic imaging systems for astronomy, this book has been written on several levels to appeal to a broad readership. Mathematical expositions are controlled to encourage a wider audience, especially among the growing community of amateur astronomers who own small telescopes with CCD cameras. The book can be used at the college level for a one semester introductory course on modern astronomical detectors and instruments, and as a supplement for a practical or laboratory class. But it also provides the core of a one semester course on astronomical instrumentation for new graduate (PhD) students who may very soon be faced with using, or even building, electronic imaging systems.

The book contains worked examples, problems & solutions, end-of-chapter references and a glossary."

The idea for another conference on the theme of Infrared Astronomy with Arrays actually goes back to March 1987. At a party held in my home at the end of the Hilo conference, excitement was running high and everyone present was in favor of another meeting. I recall suggesting to Al Fowler that the next meeting could be in Tucson. Despite Al's reply to the effect that Hawaii was a much nicer location, a meeting was held in Tucson three years later. That meeting focussed more on the astrophysics which had been accomplished with the detectors, rather than on techniques and methods. However, it was already apparent in February of 1990 that a new generation of larger m arrays would soon supersede the 64x64 class of devices and so, having just moved from the UK Infrared Telescope unit in Hawaii to join with Eric Becklin in his move to UCLA, it seemed to me that another Hilo-style conference was appropriate, and Eric agreed.

Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems is a compendium of modern astronomical research covering subjects of key interest to the main fields of contemporary astronomy. The six volumes of the set edited by Terry Oswalt (Editor-in-Chief) comprise:

Volume 1: Telescopes and Instrumentation Ian McLean (Ed.)

Volume 2: Astronomical Techniques, Software, and Data Howard E. Bond (Ed.)

Volume 3: Solar and Stellar Planetary Systems Linda French; Paul Kalas (Eds.)

Volume 4: Stellar Structure and Evolution Martin A. Barstow (Ed.)

Volume 5: Stellar Systems and Galactic Structure Gerard Gilmore (Ed.)

Volume 6: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology William C. Keel (Ed.)

Each of the approximately 85 chapters is written by a practicing professional within the appropriate sub-discipline. They include sufficient background material and references to the current literature to allow one to learn enough about a specialty within astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology to get started on a practical research project. In the spirit of the series Stars and Stellar Systems published by Chicago University Press in the 1960s and 1970s each chapter of Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems stands on its own as a fundamental review of its respective sub-discipline and each volume can be used as a text or recommended reference for advanced undergraduate or postgraduate courses. Advanced students through professional astronomers in their roles as both lecturers and researchers will welcome Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems as comprehensive and pedagogical reference to astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology."