About the Author

Dr Fred Watson is Astronomer-in-Charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory at Coonabarabran in central NSW, where he is responsible for the scientific output of Australia's largest optical telescope. Fred writes regularly for Sky + Space magazine and the annual Yearbook of Astronomy. His articles have also appeared many well-known journals, including New Scientist, Sky + Telescope and Astronomy Now. Fred is a frequent broadcaster, and has a regular spot on ABC Local radio.

Reviews

Watson, astronomer-in-charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory in New South Wales and a gifted science communicator, relates the development of the giant telescopes, or as he terms it, a history of "aperture fever." From the days of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who created the first telescope, aperture fever has driven the development of these instruments so that we now have very large telescopes (VLTs) followed by extra-large telescopes (ELTs), which may be usurped by a proposed overwhelmingly large telescope (OWL) with a 100-meter aperture. Treating readers to an insider's view of the competitive and passionate culture of the astronomers who devote their lives to gathering data about the universe, Watson describes in readable, engaging prose the technical obstacles to improving our knowledge of the universe and the stories of the people who moved-and continue to move-the technology forward. As accessible as Isaac Asimov's Eyes on the Universe (1975) and broader in scope than W. Patrick McCray's more recent Giant Telescopes, this book will appeal to many, including students of the history of astronomy and amateur astronomers. Recommended for all public and academic libraries.-Sara Rutter, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa Lib. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

It's perhaps surprising that an instrument as seemingly simple as the telescope has had a large impact on human history, from changes in warfare to helping us understand our place in the cosmos. Watson, the astronomer in charge of Australia's largest optical telescope and a science writer, provides a fine overview of the 400-year history of this invention. He's strongest when discussing the people most responsible for moving the field of astronomy forward, controversies surrounding their inventions and the complexities of their lives. From Tycho Brahe, the brilliant early Danish astronomer, to locomotive builder Andrew Barclay, whose telescopes were so flawed that he was convinced Saturn looked "like a half-eaten apple," Watson relates intriguing stories while providing them with a rich cultural context. While still interesting, the work is less compelling when Watson provides specifics about the physics and optics of telescopes. And with so much ground to cover, he rarely delves deeply and provides little if any new information. Yet gathering all of this material in one place and presenting it in such an engaging style is a considerable accomplishment. B&w illus. (Aug. 1) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.