Author(s): Serge Brunier

Astronomy

This is an in-depth tour of the world's 57 leading observatories in the USA, Europe, Chile, Australia, India, Japan, and outer space. In addition, the book includes the locations of the world's 100 largest observatories. The book opens with a fascinating history of the telescope and observatories. History's leading astronomers - Galileo, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, George Hale, Edwin Hubble - were directly involved in the creation and development of the telescopes and observatory technology. The first part of the book covers 36 Earth-based observatories: their history, mission, type of telescope and other observatory equipment, and the significant discoveries made there. The second part features 10 space-based observatories including the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Telescope. The third part covers 11 observatories of the future including both Earth-based and space-based telescopes. This book includes comprehensive profiles of the 57 most important observatories in the world, including 10 space-based telescopes. It is illustrated in full colour, with 200 colour photographs and maps.