{"product_id":"giant-telescopes-9780674019966","title":"Giant Telescopes","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy focusing on the history of the Gemini Observatoryâtwin 8-meter telescopes located on mountain peaks in Hawaii and ChileâGiant Telescopes tells the story behind the planning and construction of modern scientific tools, offering a detailed view of the technological and political transformation of astronomy in the postwar era.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn astronomy, phrases such as ‘thinking big’ don’t even begin to cover the situation. Fewer than 100 years ago, this galaxy was all there was but stargazers have pushed the universal population count to about 200bn galaxies so far—each with maybe 200bn stars—and extended the boundaries of the visible universe to about 13 bn light years. So a book about the academic bickering, muddled finance and international finesse behind the instruments that widened human horizons should be welcome. Even better, this heavenly topic has its share of drama and comedy. -- Tim Radford * The Guardian *\u003cbr\u003e[An] insightful history of how ground-based telescopes have evolved and flourished over the past 50 years. [McCray’s] tale begins with the 200-inch Hale telescope at California’s Palomar Mountain, built in 1948, and ends with the twin 8-metre Gemini telescopes on mountains in Chile and Hawaii, completed in 2002. * New Scientist *\u003cbr\u003eThis is an exceptionally readable history of the 50-years-plus evolution of large ground-based telescopes from the era of ‘cowboy’ astronomers to the present day. Historian Patrick McCray shows how profound changes in the sociology of astronomy alternately drove or reflected the development of giant telescopes in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. -- Stephen P. Maran * Sky \u0026amp; Telescope *\u003cbr\u003eSelect illustrations, a helpful table of giant telescopes, notes, and a list of sources complete a well-written, authoritative, and important study. -- Joseph N. Tatarewicz * Technology and Culture *\u003cbr\u003eThis tale of the giant eyes on the sky that are revolutionising our knowledge of the universe reveals a fascinating piece of science policy and science history. -- Martin Ince * Times Higher Education Supplement *\u003cbr\u003eThis vivid history of modern telescope building focuses on the turbulence, tension, and triumph of building the Gemini 8-meter telescopes. Strong personalities, scientific opportunities, technological advances, and institutional rivalries are sharply etched and skillfully illuminated by McCray’s deep reading of the record. As astronomers plunge headfirst into the next round of giant telescope building, this book should be on the required reading list. -- Robert P. Kirshner, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Extravagant Universe: Exploding Stars, Dark Energy, and the Accelerating Cosmos\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction: Beautiful and Cantankerous Instruments    1. Leo and Jesse's Changing World   2. Tradition and Balance   3. Visions of Grandeur   4. Paper Telescopes   5. Growing Pains   6. Astropolitics   7. Smoke and Mirrors   8. Joining the 8-Meter Club   9. Point-and-Click Astronomy    Conclusion: Telescopes, Postwar Science, and the Next Big Machine    Giant Telescopes   Sources   Abbreviations   Notes   Acknowledgments   Index","brand":"Harvard University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51359088869719,"sku":"9780674019966","price":25.16,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780674019966.jpg?v=1754123537","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/giant-telescopes-9780674019966","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}