Perched atop a mountain wilderness, the two mammoth solar tower telescopes and the 60- and 100-inch behemoth night-time reflectors of the Mount Wilson Observatory were the largest in the world, and at the center of the development of astrophysics. This book brings together the science and personal stories of those involved in the development of modern theories of stellar evolution and cosmology at the Mount Wilson Observatory. It is fully illustrated with contemporary photographs of people and instruments.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Sandage bases his account on nearly a thousand papers published by Mount Wilson astronomers, the National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoirs series, and his own knowledge of many of the astronomers discussed and their research activities."
George E. Webb, Isis
George E. Webb, Isis
Book Description
The first of five Histories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington describes the work of the Mount Wilson Observatory. Perched atop a mountain wilderness, two mammoth solar tower telescopes and the 60- and 100-inch behemoth night-time reflectors, were all the largest in the world, and were at the centre of the development of astrophysics. The book brings together the science and personal stories of those involved in the development of modern theories of stellar evolution and cosmology. Fully illustrated with contemporary photographs of people and instruments.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mount Wilson's Golden Age,
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This review is from: Centennial History of the Carnegie Institution of Washington: Volume 1, The Mount Wilson Observatory: Breaking the Code of Cosmic Evolution (Hardcover)
The first half of the 20th century was a golden age at the Mount Wilson Observatory. It was there that many of the most important steps in riddling out the secrets of stellar evolution and the expansion of the universe were made. Allan Sandage's delightful history recounts both the scientific advances made at the observatory, and tells the reader something of the brilliant but often eccentric people behind those discoveries. The author does have a distinct point of view -- he is a champion of the role of this observatory in the progress of astronomy -- but that brings a unity to the story. Some minor errors and typos have slipped through the editing, but overall this is a wonderful book. It is, however, a book that will be of most interest to readers who are already familiar with topics such as spectral classification and the Hubble Law.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read for Mt. Wilson enthusiasts,
By
This review is from: Centennial History of the Carnegie Institution of Washington: Volume 1, The Mount Wilson Observatory: Breaking the Code of Cosmic Evolution (Hardcover)
If this book is all that Alan Sandage did for astronomy it would still be an enormous contribution. It provides semi-technical survey of all the work and people at the Mt. Wilson observatory up to early 1950's. Sandage does not merely list papers and projects and reproduces somebody else's opinion on them, he provides his own excellent authoritative analysis and summaries. As a scientist, he is known for strong opinions, but such personal angles can either be easily spotted or are largely smoothed by the perspective of a lifetime experience. The book is a work of love, actually worship. Anyone interested in MWO, or history of solar physics, stellar physics, or observational cosmology will benefit from this book.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Centennial Histroy of the Carnegie Institution,
This review is from: Centennial History of the Carnegie Institution of Washington: Volume 1, The Mount Wilson Observatory: Breaking the Code of Cosmic Evolution (Hardcover)
I received my copy of this book in fine condition and very promptly. The price of $80 is in line with what everyone selling this book is asking. The price is a bit high but that is true with any book of limited release. The book itself has a few very minor errors. This is the best history of the Mount Wilson Observatory which I have every seen. The only way to get a more comprehensive history is to have access to the Observatorys libary. Then you would have to spend years reading thru hundreds of volumns of techincal work for the same information.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Scientific histories of major developments are never complete except in the memories of those who lived through them, and memories die with each generation. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
spectroscopic absolute magnitudes, meridian astrometry, nongalactic nebulae, field subgiants, general solar magnetic field, sunspot lines, chief optician, solar motion relative, nebular department, concave focusing mirror, sunspot spectra, solar tower telescope, double sine wave, solar department, parallax program, coelostat mirror, spectroscopic parallaxes, cage north, lunch shack, asymmetric drift, observatories worldwide, statistical astronomy, solar magnetic cycle, interstellar lines, observing floor Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mount Wilson, Carnegie Institution, Cal Tech, University of Chicago, United States, General Catalogue, Olin Wilson, Walter Adams, Dudley Observatory, Lick Observatory, Walter Baade, Lewis Boss, World War, George Hale, Harold Babcock, Los Angeles, Francis Pease, Horace Babcock, Milky Way, New York, Ralph Wilson, Edwin Hubble, Frederick Seares, National Academy of Sciences, University of California New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Scientific histories of major developments are never complete except in the memories of those who lived through them, and memories die with each generation. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
spectroscopic absolute magnitudes, meridian astrometry, nongalactic nebulae, field subgiants, general solar magnetic field, sunspot lines, chief optician, solar motion relative, nebular department, concave focusing mirror, sunspot spectra, solar tower telescope, double sine wave, solar department, parallax program, coelostat mirror, spectroscopic parallaxes, cage north, lunch shack, asymmetric drift, observatories worldwide, statistical astronomy, solar magnetic cycle, interstellar lines, observing floor Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mount Wilson, Carnegie Institution, Cal Tech, University of Chicago, United States, General Catalogue, Olin Wilson, Walter Adams, Dudley Observatory, Lick Observatory, Walter Baade, Lewis Boss, World War, George Hale, Harold Babcock, Los Angeles, Francis Pease, Horace Babcock, Milky Way, New York, Ralph Wilson, Edwin Hubble, Frederick Seares, National Academy of Sciences, University of California New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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