An Acre of Glass: A History and Forecast of the Telescope.

In 1609, with a handmade, 20-power telescope, Galileo saw four moons orbiting Jupiter, a discovery that would forever change the science of astronomy. The invention and refinement of the telescope, based on combinations of convex and concave lenses, was pivotal to understanding the universe. Zirker chronicles that process and introduces readers to the principles of refraction. He chronicles the work of pioneering astronomers such as William Herschel and George Hale, whose personal investments in telescope technology led to landmark discoveries. He also examines how the discoveries of X-ray, infrared, and radio wave emissions from space have filled in the picture of the cosmos. The book recounts the rise of facilities housing telescopes of unprecedented size and craftsmanship and the development of satellite telescopes, such as the famous Hubble Space Telescope. The author provides an accessible yet detailed story of how telescopes are made, the science behind their function, and their promise for future astronomical discoveries, Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2005, 360 p., color plates, hardcover, $30.00.