Hubble: A New Window to the Universe [Hardcover]

Daniel Fischer (Author), Hilmar Duerbeck (Author), H. Jenkner (Translator), D. Duncan (Translator), R. Williams (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387946721 | ISBN-13: 978-0387946726 | Publication Date: May 3, 1996 | Edition: 1

At last, a book presenting the fantastic scientific results of the first five years of Hubble Space Telescope observations! While a number of books for the general public emphasize the technological accomplishments of this multi-billion dollar project or deal with the well-publicized flaw in the telescope's optics, The Hubble: A New Window to the Universe concentrates on its astromonical achievements. The authors use new and ground-breaking Hubble results to illustrate a wide range of astronomical topics, from the great questions about the universe as a whole to quasars and black holes, and from the life and death of stars to our planetary neighbors in the solar system. The first part of this book presents a brief historical overview, "From Babylon to Cape Canaveral," concentrating on progress in astromony from the instrumentation point of view and on the Hubble project itself. The central and largest portion presents the wealth of exciting astronomical results obtained with the Hubble. The last part describes the Hubble operations, as well as the plans for the future of the telescope itself and beyond. The text contains a large number of spectacular images, mainly taken with the Hubble, as well as self-contained portraits of astronomers and explanations of astronomical topics and instruments. Written in a style appealing to both the interested public and to individuals familiar with the field, this compendium serves as a testament to the significant role the Hubble has played in astronomical accomplishment and discovery the past five years.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Most people's knowledge of the Hubble Space Telescope is limited to NASA's sheepish admission that the HST was built with a flawed optical system, a fact discovered shortly after the billion-dollar telescope's 1990 launch. But this blunder is just one chapter in the Hubble saga, a story that begins with the HST's initial conception in 1946 and continues to today's constant stream of stunning images that Hubble beams back to Earth. In Hubble: A New Window to the Universe, astronomy writer Daniel Fischer and research astronomer Hilmar Duerbeck seek to put the telescope back in its proper context: not as a symbol of government ineptitude, but as a complex, cutting-edge instrument of tremendous importance to science.

Fischer and Duerbeck accomplish this not only by sharing the fruits of Hubble's far-reaching vision in the form of dozens of striking, otherworldly images, but also by detailing the telescope's history and intricate inner workings. The bulk of the book by far, though, is a discussion of what Hubble has allowed us to see, interspersed with helpful diagrams, photographs, and illustrations. Hubble is a great find for anyone in search of a meaty primer on deep-space astronomy. --Paul Hughes

Review

Buy it and feast your eyes on the glorious images from the ultimate eye in the sky. -- New Scientist

Professional astronomers will find the book handy, students could use it for writing term papers, and amateurs will enjoy it. -- Sky & Telescope

Stunning images...make this a wonderful volume to tuck away for posterity. -- The Planetarian

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 165 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (May 3, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387946721
• ISBN-13: 978-0387946726
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 11.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,008,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good insight into the birth of the Hubble Telescope, May 23, 2002

By 

DH - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hubble: A New Window to the Universe (Hardcover)

Probably the first thing I would point out is the book was first published in 1996. Accordingly many of the photographs may have been superceded by more recent shots from Hubble, and recent developments with the telescope are not covered. That aside, I found this book an interesting read. Of particular interest is the coverage of the early days of the telescope and the scandal over the faulty optics. The comparative before and after photographs of the faulty and corrected optics are also fascinating. There are a large number of photographs in the book which really lends itself well to sitting on the coffee table and occassional viewing. The book is plain black hardcover with a glossy dustjacket. It is set in landscape view and I'm not quite sure what it is but the layout of the book doesn't really gel together that well. I would recommend prospective purchasers check out the book in a library before purchasing to see if it meets their requirements. This book would have received a higher rating in 1996, but it is showing its age now. Check it out first.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great coffee-table book AND a good overview, January 31, 2002

By 

Kevin W. Parker (Greenbelt, MD) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hubble: A New Window to the Universe (Hardcover)

I am fortunate enough to have supported the Hubble Space Telescope (helping with testing the ground system at the Goddard Space Flight Center), so I bring an extra level of interest to this book.

Which book provides a detailed background on HST, from the first notions of a telescope in space through the problems with the mirror and its resolution. It then goes into the astronomy that has been and is being done with the spacecraft, providing copious and interesting detail along with the breathtaking photographs that HST has become famous for.

The result is both a great coffee-table book (for the photographs) and a worthwhile overview of current astronomy and what's being investigated. Recommended.