The Design and Construction of Large Optical Telescopes / Edition 1

by Pierre Bely

Overview

There is no dearth of books on telescope optics and, indeed, optics is clearly a key element in the design and construction of telescopes. But it is by no means the only important element. As telescopes become larger and more costly, other aspects such as structures, pointing, wavefront control, enclosures, and project management become just as critical. Although most of the technical knowledge required for all these fields is available in various specialized books, journal articles, and technical reports, they are not necessarily written with application to telescopes in mind. This book is a first attempt at assembling in a single text the basic astronomical and engineering principles used in the design and construction of large telescopes. Its aim is to broadly cover all major aspects of the field, from the fundamentals of astronomical observation to optics, control systems, structural, mechanical, and thermal engineering, as well as specialized topics such as site selection and program management. This subject is so vast that an in-depth treatment is obviously imprac- cal. Our intent is therefore only to provide a comprehensive introduction to the essential aspects of telescope design and construction. This book will not replace specialized scientific and technical texts. But we hope that it will be useful for astronomers, managers, and systems engineers who seek a basic understanding of the underlying principles of telescope making, and for s- cialists who wish to acquaint themselves with the fundamental requirements and approaches of their colleagues in other disciplines.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387955124
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	01/14/2003
Series:	Astronomy and Astrophysics Library
Edition description:	2003
Pages:	508
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.05(d)

Table of Contents

Astronomical Observations.- Instruments.- Design Methods and Project Management.- Telescope Optics.- Stray Light Control.- Telescope Structure and Mechanisms.- Pointing and Control.- Active and Adaptive Optics.- Thermal Control.- Integration and Verification.- Observatory Enclosure.- Observatory Sites.