Preface; Part I. Optical Observatories: 1. Palomar Mountain Observatory; 2. The United States Optical Observatory; 3. From the Next Generation Telescope to Gemini and SOAR; 4. Competing primary mirror designs; 5. Active optics, adaptive optics and other technical innovations; 6. European Northern Observatory and Calar Alto; 7. European Southern Observatory; 8. Mauna Kea Observatory; 9. Australian optical observatories; 10. Mount Hopkins' Whipple Observatory and the MMT; 11. Apache Point Observatory; 12. Carnegie Southern Observatory (Las Campanas); 13. Mount Graham International Optical Observatory; 14. Modern optical interferometers; 15. Solar observatories; Part II. Radio Observatories: 16. Australian radio observatories; 17. Cambridge Mullard Radio Observatory; 18. Jodrell Bank; 19. Early radio observatories away from the Australian-British axis; 20. The American National Radio Astronomy Observatory; 21. Owens Valley and Mauna Kea; 22. Further North and Central American observatories; 23. Further European and Asian radio observatories; 24. ALMA and the South Pole; Name index; Optical observatory and telescope index; Radio observatory and telescope index; General index.
An historical overview of the development of professional optical and radio observatories from 1945 to today.
David Leverington received his degree in Physics from the University of Oxford in 1963. Since then he has held a number of senior positions in the space industry, working for both the European Space Agency and British Aerospace before taking early retirement in 1992. Subsequently he has written four books: A History of Astronomy from 1890 to the Present (1996), New Cosmic Horizons: Space Astronomy from the V2 to the Hubble Space Telescope (Cambridge, 2001), Babylon to Voyager and Beyond: A History of Planetary Astronomy (Cambridge, 2003) and the Encyclopedia of the History of Astronomy and Astrophysics (Cambridge, 2013). He was also technical consultant for ABC-CLIO's Space Exploration and Humanity: A Historical Encyclopedia (2010), supported by the History Committee of the American Astronautical Society.
'I recommend this book as an incredibly detailed historical record
of the design, construction and operation of the world's
ground-based optical and radio astronomy facilities; their spatial
and temporal distribution covers all continents from 1945 to the
present … this book is a testament to the wonders of the universe
as detected by optical and radio telescopes.' Barry R. Masters,
Optics and Photonics News
'I found this book an exceptionally important contribution to the
history of observational astronomy in the second half of the 20th
century … On offer here is a masterly overview of the development
of ground-based optical and radio astronomy since 1945 … a splendid
guide to the professional observatories of the modern age, with an
emphasis on covering innovation in the broadest sense…It is an
essential purchase for libraries.' Simon Mitton, The Observatory: A
Review of Astronomy
'David Leverington tells a concise history about those many
astronomical structures. That is a lot of observatories and
telescopes, and he admits that it may 'read a little more like an
encyclopedia'. An encyclopedic tour it is … The author's decision
to organize his book around telescopes rather than scientific
achievements allows each chapter to be read independently …
Leverington traces the developments at different locations and puts
together a cohesive narrative … he delves into the role of
individual astronomers … [and] strikes a good balance by imparting
sufficient information without going into too much detail …
Observatories and Telescopes of Modern Times offers technically
informed readers an excellent reference. Readers will come away
from the book with a better understanding of existing telescopes
and observatories along with some of their scientific specifications
and achievements.' Eun-Joo Ahn, Physics Today
'The lengthy and detailed descriptions are useful and interesting,
the tables are of considerable reference value, and the
illustrations are excellent. The points about the advantages for
optical instruments of the remoteness of Hawaii, the Canary
Islands, Chile, etc. (no light pollution) and altitude (Mauna Kea
is probably the highest place on land that can be visited
routinely) are well made.' Ray Ward, Reference Reviews
'While other books have focused on a survey of telescopes and
observatories in various eras of astronomy, this is the first to
comprehensively tackle the complex task of the post-1945 era. … For
each observatory, beginning with the 200-in Palomar Telescope, the
author carefully explains the scientific and political
considerations that led to their construction. It would have been
easy to give the human dimension short shrift, but by examining
often contentious conversations and negotiations, Leverington
offers us a superb capsule history of each observatory. … The book
is profusely illustrated (all in black and white) so that each
telescope or observatory has at least one photo or artist
conception. … David Leverington has written the definitive account
of modern observatories that is not only readable but a valuable
sourcebook for the telescopic era of the past 70 years.' Clifford
J. Cunningham, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage
'The author is to be congratulated for the meticulous research he
has carried out toproduce a book which will be of great interest to
optical and radio astronomers. He has produced an astronomical
encyclopedia which readers who wish to pursue thehistorical
development of observatories and innovative telescopes will find of
greatinterest.' Ragbir Bhathal, Metascience
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