THE TELESCOPE MAKERS: From Galileo to the Space Age

by Barbara Land ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 13, 1968

Perhaps unfortunately for Barbara Land, the history-biography of astronomy has been well-served recently (e.g. Pickering, Famous Astronomers, Silverberg, Four Men. . .); however, this excels even in comparison. It is interesting, smoothly written, and very well documented with exciting quotations from the writings of the ten telescope-makers surveyed. The book begins with the receipt of news by Galileo that ""a Fleming had constructed a spyglass."" Covering the ground of the Pickering and Silverberg books, this adds consideration of more modern topics--Reber's radio telescope and Friedman's rocket-based X-ray telescopes of the 1960's. The author also does more than recount the stories; she analyzes them in terms of an authentic view of how science progresses. In sum, worth having whether or not the previous two have been acquired.

Pub Date: Jan. 13, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crowell

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION