Rating: 
Summary: Amazing story.
Review: A bit long, but so detailed. And fascinating how they searched for the right material for the mirror, poured several versions of it, transported it across the country, polished it by hand over a period of YEARS! Amazing story.
Rating: 
Summary: A hugely enjoyable book about a huge project....
Review: A tale of modern engineering. The design and construction of the 200 inch Palomar observatory was possibly the first "big science" project of the modern era. Florence also provides much biographical information on George E. Hale, a necessity since the building of this telescope and the life of Hale were so intertwined as to be inseparable. Put simply, even if you have no background in astronomy or telescope-making, this book presents a story of a huge engineering undertaken. Nothing of the scale had ever been considered before and the designers and builders had to confront countless unique problems and invent new techniques along the way. This book is a classic in the history of modern astronomy, but enjoyable for anyone who loves reading about massive construction projects.
Rating:
Summary: A hugely enjoyable book about a huge project....
Review: A tale of modern engineering. The design and construction of the 200 inch Palomar observatory was possibly the first "big science" project of the modern era. Florence also provides much biographical information on George E. Hale, a necessity since the building of this telescope and the life of Hale were so intertwined as to be inseparable. Put simply, even if you have no background in astronomy or telescope-making, this book presents a story of a huge engineering undertaken. Nothing of the scale had ever been considered before and the designers and builders had to confront countless unique problems and invent new techniques along the way. This book is a classic in the history of modern astronomy, but enjoyable for anyone who loves reading about massive construction projects.
Rating:
Summary: A hugely enjoyable book about a huge project....
Review: A tale of modern engineering. The design and construction of the 200 inch Palomar observatory was possibly the first "big science" project of the modern era. Florence also provides much biographical information on George E. Hale, a necessity since the building of this telescope and the life of Hale were so intertwined as to be inseparable. Put simply, even if you have no background in astronomy or telescope-making, this book presents a story of a huge engineering undertaken. Nothing of the scale had ever been considered before and the designers and builders had to confront countless unique problems and invent new techniques along the way. This book is a classic in the history of modern astronomy, but enjoyable for anyone who loves reading about massive construction projects.
Rating:
Summary: A fine rendering of a historic achievement
Review: Florence's narrative brings alive the fascinating saga of the great Mt. Palomar reflector, in its time the world's largest telescope and a pioneering example of "Big Science." The instrument's gestation period, beginning in 1928 and interrupted by the second World War, was so long that three of the principal figures didn't live to see it dedicated in 1948. Included in this group was the project's founding father, George Ellery Hale, for whom the telescope is named. The author uses Hale's remarkable abilities and seemingly unending physical and mental travails as a unifying theme throughout the book.A renowned telescope developer and respected solar astronomer, Hale had the establishment clout and scientific connections to launch such a grand project and assemble a team to carry it out. While suffering from a chronic nervous condition that often left him isolated in a darkened room, he was nevertheless able to lead the program through its most critical periods and help rescue it from a multitude of financial and organizational crises. The immense 200-inch (nearly 17 ft) diameter of the Palomar telescope's main mirror gave it twice the theoretical resolution and four times the light grasp of its Hale-inspired predecessor, the 100-inch reflector on Mt. Wilson. Everything about the 500-ton machine was Brobdingnagian, perhaps best symbolized by the fact that an observer at the prime focus actually sat inside the telescope tube, with plenty of clearance for starlight to stream past him to the mirror some fifty-five feet below. In the hands of Florence, what might have been a confusing welter of facts becomes a coherent and utterly engrossing suspense story. He seemingly overlooks nothing about the relevant issues of Astronomy, optics, engineering, business, politics and personalities; yet there is no sense of overkill and one always feels eager to begin the next chapter. The dozens of interacting characters are portrayed with enough subtlety, irony and humor to make them seem real and familiar. I have seldom gotten so much pure enjoyment from a book.
Rating:
Summary: A nearly perfect book about a nearly perfect machine
Review: Florence's narrative brings alive the fascinating saga of the great Mt. Palomar reflector, in its time the world's largest telescope and a pioneering example of "Big Science." The instrument's gestation period, beginning in 1928 and interrupted by the second World War, was so long that three of the principal figures didn't live to see it dedicated in 1948. Included in this group was the project's founding father, George Ellery Hale, for whom the telescope is named. The author uses Hale's remarkable abilities and seemingly unending physical and mental travails as a unifying theme throughout the book. A renowned telescope developer and respected solar astronomer, Hale had the establishment clout and scientific connections to launch such a grand project and assemble a team to carry it out. While suffering from a chronic nervous condition that often left him isolated in a darkened room, he was nevertheless able to lead the program through its most critical periods and help rescue it from a multitude of financial and organizational crises. The immense 200-inch (nearly 17 ft) diameter of the Palomar telescope's main mirror gave it twice the theoretical resolution and four times the light grasp of its Hale-inspired predecessor, the 100-inch reflector on Mt. Wilson. Everything about the 500-ton machine was Brobdingnagian, perhaps best symbolized by the fact that an observer at the prime focus actually sat inside the telescope tube, with plenty of clearance for starlight to stream past him to the mirror some fifty-five feet below. In the hands of Florence, what might have been a confusing welter of facts becomes a coherent and utterly engrossing suspense story. He seemingly overlooks nothing about the relevant issues of Astronomy, optics, engineering, business, politics and personalities; yet there is no sense of overkill and one always feels eager to begin the next chapter. The dozens of interacting characters are portrayed with enough subtlety, irony and humor to make them seem real and familiar. I have seldom gotten so much pure enjoyment from a book.
Rating:
Summary: A fine rendering of a historic achievement
Review: Florence's narrative brings alive the fascinating saga of the great Mt. Palomar reflector, in its time the world's largest telescope and a pioneering example of "Big Science." The instrument's gestation period, beginning in 1928 and interrupted by the second World War, was so long that three of the principal figures didn't live to see it dedicated in 1948. Included in this group was the project's founding father, George Ellery Hale, for whom the telescope is named. The author uses Hale's remarkable abilities and seemingly unending physical and mental travails as a unifying theme throughout the book. A renowned telescope developer and respected solar astronomer, Hale had the establishment clout and scientific connections to launch such a grand project and assemble a team to carry it out. While suffering from a chronic nervous condition that often left him isolated in a darkened room, he was nevertheless able to lead the program through its most critical periods and help rescue it from a multitude of financial and organizational crises. The immense 200-inch (nearly 17 ft) diameter of the Palomar telescope's main mirror gave it twice the theoretical resolution and four times the light grasp of its Hale-inspired predecessor, the 100-inch reflector on Mt. Wilson. Everything about the 500-ton machine was Brobdingnagian, perhaps best symbolized by the fact that an observer at the prime focus actually sat inside the telescope tube, with plenty of clearance for starlight to stream past him to the mirror some fifty-five feet below. In the hands of Florence, what might have been a confusing welter of facts becomes a coherent and utterly engrossing suspense story. He seemingly overlooks nothing about the relevant issues of Astronomy, optics, engineering, business, politics and personalities; yet there is no sense of overkill and one always feels eager to begin the next chapter. The dozens of interacting characters are portrayed with enough subtlety, irony and humor to make them seem real and familiar. I have seldom gotten so much pure enjoyment from a book.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing story of the Palomar telescope and the man behind it
Review: I bought my copy at the gift shop at the Palomar Observatory! I read the book over the next week, almost unable to put it down. The book covers much about Hale, the man behind the telescope and several earlier "largest telescope in the world" projects. He battled many private demons to get his dreams built. The book covers the processes in construction and use in a lot of detail, with a lot of drama (there were many points when all could have been lost very easily). Anyone with an interest in astronomy, the history of technology, or the history of science would enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good Reading
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. It is well and professionally written (I only spotted a single error in grammar). Most of all, I found it quite interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Good Reading
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. It is well and professionally written (I only spotted a single error in grammar). Most of all, I found it quite interesting.
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