story of telescope - Arvind Gupta

173 Pages·2009·17.16 MB·English

by  Pradeep Kumar

Eyes on the Sky
The story of telescopes

Eyes on the Sky
The story of telescopes
Biman Nath
Vigyan Prasar
Published by
Vigyan Prasar
Department of Science and Technology
A-50, Institutional Area, Sector-62
NOIDA 201 307 (Uttar Pradesh), India
(Regd. Office: Technology Bhawan, New Delhi 110016)
Phones: 0120-2404430-35
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in
Copyright: 2009 by Vigyan Prasar
All rights reserved
Eyes on the Sky: The story of telescopes by Biman Nath
Cover design and typesetting: Pradeep Kumar
Production Supervision: Subodh Mahanti, Manish Mohan Gore and
Pradeep Kumar
ISBN: 978-81-7480-196-8
Price: Rs. 140/-
Printed by: Vibha Press Pvt. Ltd., Ph. 41611300
Contents
Foreword...................................................................................vii
1. Astronomy before telescopes..........................................1
2. The invention of telescope ............................................13
3. Early telescopes (17th century).....................................20
4. Beyond the solar system: 18th century telescopes ....34
5. The birth of astrophysics: 19th century.......................45
6. Telescopes at the end of 19th century .........................62
7. Early 20th century telescopes .......................................69
8. Modern (and future) telescopes ...................................78
9. Radio telescopes : I .........................................................93
10. Radio telescopes : II......................................................103
11. Spaceborne telescopes — I ..........................................115
12. Spaceborne telescopes —II..........................................129
13. Cosmic ray and gravity wave telescopes:
modern astronomy.......................................................144
Index ...............................................................................159

Foreword
Of late, Vigyan Prasar has emerged as an important
resource-cum-facility centre in the field of science
communication. In addition to its regular programmes,
Vigyan Prasar has undertaken special programmes and
national campaigns built around celestial events like Total
Solar Eclipse (1995, 1999) and Venus Transit (2004).
Software developed on such occasions is extensively
utilised by agencies involved in science communication
across the country.
The year 2009 has been declared as the International Year
of Astronomy (IYA-2009) coinciding with the 400th
anniversary of the first astronomical observations with a
telescope by Galileo Galilei and the publication of Johannes
Kepler’s Astronomia nova (New Astronomy). The central theme
of the IYA-2009 is “The Universe Yours to Discover.” It is
important that all human beings realize the impact of
astronomy and basic sciences on our daily lives, and
understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a
more equitable and peaceful society.
The IYA-2009 aims to help people realize how astronomy
has enriched almost every human culture and rediscover
their place in the Universe through the day and night time
sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and
discovery. This will also serve as platform for making the
general public aware about the recent astronomical
discoveries and stimulate interest in astronomy.
Throughout the year, activities would take place in each
participating country at different levels.
Based on its past experience, Vigyan Prasar has initiated
programmes with activities built around IYA-2009. The
activities include production of a 52-episode radio serial in
19 Indian languages including English to be broadcast from
117 stations of All India Radio, a 26-episode television serial
on astronomy, development of a variety of software
including books, interactive CD-ROMs, and power-point
presentations to be used as resource material during training
programmes at different levels. An important part of the
campaign would be the activities built around the total solar
eclipse of 22 July 2009, which would be visible from some
parts of India.
It is hoped the present series of publications brought
out during IYA-2009 would be welcomed by science
communicators, science clubs, resource persons, and
individuals; and inspire them to discover the universe and
realize their position in it.
Vinay B Kamble
Director
Vigyan Prasar
For my parents,
who gave me my first telescope
and changed my world forever.