Telescope Historians. Authors of books & articles on the telescope: Louis Bell. André Couder. André Danjon. Albert Van Helden Henry King. Donald Osterbrock. Rolf Riekher. Rolf Willach. Helen Wright. ======================================== Louis Bell. Notes on the Early Evolution of the Reflector. 1921, 1922. The Telescope. 1922. 287pp. Louis Bell was born 05 December, 1864 and died 14 June, 1923. He was raised by his grandmother in Chester, New Hampshire, after his father became a casualty of the Civil War and his mother died shortly after. Bell attended Philips Exeter Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1884. A year of graduate study at Dartmouth was followed by three years of graduate work at Johns Hopkins under Henry Rowland, primarily investigating the absorption spectrum of nitrogen peroxide (published in American Journal of Chemistry in 1885), the ultraviolet spectrum of cadmium (American Journal of Science 1886), and the precise wavelength of the sodium D1 line. Henry Rowland's 1887 atlas of the solar spectrum required new levels of precision in spectral standards. For two years, Bell worked with four Rowland gratings to measure the sodium D1 line to the greatest possible precision, to use as a benchmark for measuring other lines. Rowland used this result as the basis for his 'Preliminary Table of Solar Spectrum Wavelengths', published in the Astrophysical Journal 1895-1897. However, Bell's work with measuring wavelengths using gratings became obsolete after Michelson developed interferometric techniques in spectroscopy, and Bell acknowledged this in his publications. Bell left Johns Hopkins in 1888, spent a year at Purdue managing its electrical engineering curriculum, and after two years became editor of Electrical World. In 1893, Bell became chief engineer of the power transmission department of General Electric, and he installed the first three phase transmission plant at GE's Redlands California facility. After 1895, Bell worked in Boston as a consulting electrical engineer. He was a member & president of the Illuminating Engineering Society and contributed to its proceedings. Bell maintained an informal association with the Harvard College Observatory. During World War I, he was involved with research on periscopes, and continued work on periscopes with optician Walter Wolfe of Boston. Bell wrote 'Ghosts and Oculars' in 1921 Ghost images are seen in eyepieces from reflections off surfaces in an optical system. If the image is far out of focus, it lessens contrast; if the image is in focus at the eye, it presents a distracting pale image. Since the Kellner eyepiece places the field lens near the focus of the eye lens, ghosts are more a problem. Bell tested many types of eyepieces and experimented with design of Huygenians to improve color correction. Bell published two articles titled 'Notes on the Early Evolution of the Reflector', in 1921 and 1922. James Gregory attemped to make a Gregorian telescope in 1664 with Reive (presumably Richard Reeve, father or son). This six foot telescope was a failure because Reive used cloth to polish the speculum and was unable to achieve an accurate figure. Robert Hooke showed a Gregorian to the Royal Society 05 February 1674. Newton presented the Royal Society with a 6 inch telescope on 11 January 1672. The minutes of the Royal Society from 25 January, 1672 note 'There was produced a reflecting telescope 4 feet long of Mr. Newton's invention which, though the metaline concave was not duly polished, yet did pretty well, but was under charged'. It was improved for the next meeting, when the minutes note 'The 4 foot telescope of Mr. Newton's invention was produced again, being improved since the last meeting. It was recommended to Mr. Hooke to see it perfected as far as it was capable of being'. No further note is found in the minutes, nor is it certain who fabricated the 4 foot telescope. About 30 years later, Newton experimented with glass telescope mirrors, silvered on the rear surface, an idea also proposed by James Gregory. Bell credits John Hadley with the invention of the reflecting telescope, because Hadley parabolized his mirror using effective tests and taught others the figuring skills he had developed. Bell held over 40 U.S. Patents, including: 869,769; Oct. 29, 1907; Telescope. A prism binocular with a completely original form of erecting prism. 1,275,204; Aug. 13, 1918; Endotoroidal Lens. A toroidal lens for illumination that focuses the beam to a wide angle horizontally and a narrow angle vertically. 1,428,935; Sept. 12, 1922; Reflecting Telescope. Unobstructed reflector, mirror an off-axis segment of a larger parabola; with an original focuser. 1,445,284; Feb. 13, 1923; Periscopic System; with Carl Axel Robert Lundin. Variable magnification periscope. ------- Bell, Louis. On the Discrepancy Between Grating and Interference Measurements. Astrophysical Journal 15 (April 1902) 157-171. Bell, Louis. Ghosts and Oculars. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 56:2 (Feb. 1921) 45-58. Bell, Louis. Note on the Nebula Surrounding Nova Persei. Astrophysical Journal 16 (July 1902) 38-42. Bell, Louis. Notes on the Early Evolution of the Reflector. Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 16 (June 1922) 179-185. Reprint from Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, February 1922. Bell, Lewis. Notes on the Early Evolution of the Reflector. Popular Astronomy 29 (1921) 557-559. (Louis Bell) Bell, Louis. The Perot-Fabry Corrections of Rowland's Wave-Lengths. Astrophysical Journal 18 (October 1903) 191-197. Bell, Louis. The Physical Interpretation of Albedo. I. Astrophysical Journal 45:1 (January 1917) 1-29. Bell, Louis. The Physical Interpretation of Albedo, II. Saturn's Rings. Astrophysical Journal 50:1 (July 1919) 1-22. Bell, Louis. Rainband Spectroscopy. American Journal of Science 30 (1885) 347- 354. Bell, Louis. Some Convenient Forms of Comparison-Prisms. Astrophysical Journal 29:4 (1909) 305-307. Bell, Louis. Star Colors. a Study in Physiological Optics. Astrophysical Journal 31 (April 1910) 234-257. Bell, Louis. The Telescope. N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, 1922. N.Y.: Dover, 1981. 287pp. Crew, Henry. Bell, Louis. Dumas Malone, ed. Dictionary of American Biography. N.Y.: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1936. ======================================== André Joseph Alexandre Couder Lunettes et Telescopes ------ Born: Alencon (France), 27. November 1897; died Suresnes (Paris), 16. January 1979. In collaboration with André Danjon, the author of 'Lunettes et Télescopes, Théorie – Conditions d’emploi – Description – Réglage – Histoire', Paris 1935, reprint Paris 1990. After Couder had studied in Paris (1916-19) and in Strassbourg (1922-25), he was first trainee at the observatory in Strassbourg, and later director of the optical lab and astronomer at the Observatoire de Paris. He received his PhD from the University of Paris in 1932, was member and president of the Bureau des Longitudes, and became member of the French Académie des Sciences 1954. He contributed in a major way to nearly every aspect of telescope optics. Besides theoretical work – he invented the Couder aplanat, a development of the Schwarzschild wide field reflector – quite a number of important lenses and mirrors were ground and/or figured and tested under his guidance at the optical laboratory, one of them being the famous 193 cm primary mirror for the Observatoire de Haute-Provence. This telescope is also equipped with a primary mirror support system developed by Couder. --Andreas Maurer ------ Couder developed a null test similar to the Dall procedure; and the Couder mask for testing mirrors is widely used today. Couder contributed to the Amateur Telescope Making trilogy an article on spider diffraction. The Couder telescope can also be considered a variant of the Ritchey Chretien. Sky & Telescope 57:6 (June 1979) 541. ======================================== André Louis Danjon Lunettes et Telescopes ------ Born Caen (France), 6. April 1890; died Suresnes (Paris), 27. April 1967. In collaboration with André Couder, the author of 'Lunettes et Télescopes, Théorie – Conditions d’emploi – Description – Réglage – Histoire', Paris 1935, reprint Paris 1990. Having studied physics, he was mobilized in 1914 and injured as infantryman, losing an eye. Being passionately interested in astronomy, he was in 1919 nominated as assistant astronomer at the Strassbourg Observatory. He developed good administrative competence and started at once a project for the reconstruction of the observatory and its equipment. Soon afterwards he came up with a preliminary project which later became the origination of the Observatoire de Haute-Provence. In 1930 he became director of the Strassbourg Observatory and in 1935 doyen of the Faculty of Sciences. When the Strassbourg University moved in 1940 to Clermont-Ferrand, Danjon acted as president and was arrested by the Germans in 1942. In 1945 he was nominated director of the Observatoire de Paris and during his directorship until 1963, he became influential for the development of all observatories in the provinces. His scientific activities are innumerable and include radio astronomy, interferometry, photometry, positional astronomy, double stars, etc. Danjon is also author of Astronomie générale, which was reprinted several times. --Andreas Maurer ------ Andre Danjon was a lifelong, active member of the Societe Astronomique de France, an organization of professionals and amateurs, and a teacher - among his students was Andre Couder. He designed and built many instruments, notably several photometers used for variable stars, planetary albedos, lunar earthshine, and lunar eclipses. Danjon designed and built a half wave interference micrometer, used on binary stars and to measure diameters of planets and satellites. He attempted to build an interferometer to measure stellar diameters, an unsuccessful project due to atmospheric scintillation, but the project led to studies of turbulence, measured with an interferometer, developing a numerical scale & relationship between turbulence & resolution that was & is widely used. He invented a new transit instrument for Strasbourg (Kuiper & Middlehurst, Telescopes, pp125-128), built in 1934 and again at Paris in 1967. He greatly improved the prismatic astrolabe for positional astronomy, 15 of which were constructed for International Geophysical Year 1957-1958, and contributed a chapter on this instrument to Kuiper & Middlehurst. Danjon's prismatic astrolabe is as precise (measuring time to 0.004 seconds and latitude to 0.06 arcseconds) as a photographic zenith tube but is able to observe stars within 30 degrees of the zenith. Danjon led the effort to establish Haute Provence Observatory and its 76 inch telescope; and was the director of Paris Observatory in 1945 when it began a revival and rebuilt the Meudon branch. Reference: Kovalevsky, J. A Great French Astronomer. Sky & Telescope 33:6 (June 1967) 347. ======================================== Albert Van Helden The Invention of the Telescope. A Catalogue of Early Telescopes. Professor at Rice University from 1970 to 2001, and currently at University of Utrecht, the Netherlands. Vice President from 1996 to 1997 and President from 1998 to 1999 of the History of Science Society. -------- Helden, Albert Van. The Accademia del Cimento and Saturn's Ring. Physis 15 (1973) 237-59. Helden, Albert Van. 'Annulo Cingitur': The Solution to the Problem of Saturn. Journal for the History of Astronomy 5 (1974) 155-74. Helden, Albert Van. The 'Astronomical Telescope', 1611-1650. Annali dell'Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze, 1:2 (1976) 13-36. Helden, Albert Van. The Birth of the Modern Scientific Instrument, 1550-1700. pp49-84. The Uses of Science in the Age of Newton. ed. J. G. Burke. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1983. Helden, Albert Van. Building Large Telescopes, 1900-1950. pp134-152. The General History of Astronomy, Volume 4A. Owen Gingerich, ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984. Helden, Albert Van. Catalogue of Early Telescopes, Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza. Firenze: Giunti, 1999. 111pp. Helden, Albert Van. Christopher Wren's De Corpore Saturni. Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London. 23 (1968) 213-29. Helden, Albert Van. Contrasting Careers in Astronomy: Huygens and Cassini. De Zeventiende Eeuw 12 (1996) 96-105. Helden, Albert Van. The Development of Compound Eyepieces, 1640-1670. Journal for the History of Astronomy 8 (1977) 26-37. Helden, Albert Van. The Dimensions of the Discarded Image. pp65-75. Mapping the Cosmos. ed. J. Chance and R. O. Wells, Jr. Rice University Press, 1985. Helden, Albert Van and Maria Luisa Righini Bonelli. Divini and Campani: A Forgotten Chapter in the History of the Accademia del Cimento. Firenze: Annali dell'Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, 1981. 43pp, excerpts following. Helden, Albert Van. Eustachio Divini versus Christiaan Huygens: A Reappraisal. Physis 12 (1970) 36-50. Helden, Albert Van. Galileo and Scheiner on Sunspots: A Case Study in the Visual Language of Astronomy. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 140 (1996) 357-95. Helden, Albert Van. Galileo and the Telescope. Novita Celesti e Crisi del Sapere. pp149-158. Paolo Galluzzi, ed. Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi Galileiana. Conference 18-26 March, 1983. Monograph 7, Annali dell'Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze, 1983. Firenze: Giunti Barbera, 1984. Helden, Albert Van. Galileo on the Sizes and Distances of the Planets. Annali dell'Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze 7(1982) 65-86. Helden, Albert Van. Galileo, Telescopic Astronomy, and the Copernican System. pp81-105. The General History of Astronomy, vol. 2A. ed. M. A. Hoskin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1984-. Helden, Albert Van. Gassendi and the Telescope: Toward a Research Community. Volume 2, pp329-339. Quadricentenaire de la Naissance de Pierre Gassendi 1592- 1655: Actes du Colloque International Digne-les-Bains, 18-21 Mai 1992. Digne-les- Bains: Societe Scientifique et Litteraire des Alpes de Haute Provence, 1994. Helden, Albert Van. Halley and the Dimensions of the Solar System. pp143-56. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: A Longer View of Newton and Halley. ed. N. J. W. Thrower. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990. Helden, Albert Van. The Historical Problem of the Invention of the Telescope. History of Science 13 (1975) 251-63. Helden, Albert Van. How Accurate were Seventeenth-Century Measurements of Solar Diameter?. Nature 330 (17 December 1987) 629-31. With C. R. O'Dell. Helden, Albert Van. Huygens and the Astronomers. pp147-165. Studies on Christiaan Huygens. ed. H. J. M. Bos et al. Lisse, Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger, 1980. Helden, Albert Van. The Importance of the Transit of Mercury of 1631. Journal for the History of Astronomy 7 (1976) 1-10. Helden, Albert Van. The Invention of the Telescope. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 67:4 (1977) 1-67. Helden, Albert Van. Johannes Hevelius and the Visual Language of Astronomy. pp. 97-116. Renaissance and Revolution: Humanists, Scholars, Craftsmen, and Natural Philosophers in Early Modern Europe. ed. J. V. Field and Frank A. J. L. James. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Helden, Albert Van. Longitude and the Satellites of Jupiter. pp42-58. The Quest for Longitude. ed. William J. H. Andrewes. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1996. Helden, Albert Van. Measuring Solar Parallax: The Venus Transits of 1761 and 1769 and their the Nineteenth-Century Sequels. pp153-168. The General History of Astronomy, vol. 2B. ed. M. A. Hoskin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984- . Helden, Albert Van. Measuring the Universe: Cosmic Dimensions from Aristarchus to Halley. University of Chicago Press, 1985. Helden, Albert Van. A Note on Christiaan Huygens's De Saturni Luna Observatio Nova. Janus 62 (1975) 13-15. Helden, Albert Van. Rings in Astronomy and Cosmology, 1650-1900. pp12-22. Planetary Rings. ed. R. Greenberg and A. Brahic. University of Arizona Press, 1984. Helden, Albert Van. Roemer's Speed of Light. Journal for the History of Astronomy 14 (1983) 137-41. Helden, Albert Van. Saturn and his Anses. Journal for the History of Astronomy 5 (1974) 105-121. Helden, Albert Van. Saturn through the Telescope: A Brief Historical Survey. pp23- 43. Saturn. ed. T. Gehrels and M. S. Matthews. University of Arizona Press, 1984. Helden, Albert Van. The Telescope and Authority from Galileo to Cassini. pp9-29. Scientific Instruments. ed. T. L. Hankins and A. Van Helden. Osiris 9 1994. Helden, Albert Van. Telescope Building, 1850-1900. pp40-58. The General History of Astronomy Volume 4A. Owen Gingerich, ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984, Helden, Albert Van. The Telescope and Cosmic Dimensions. pp106-118. The General History of Astronomy, volume 2A. R. Taton & C. Wilson, ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Helden, Albert Van. The Telescope from Galileo to Today. pp318-331. From Galileo's Occhialino to Optoelectronics. Paolo Mazzoldi, ed. Singapore: World Scientific, 1993 Helden, Albert Van. The Telescope in the Seventeenth Century. Isis 65 (1974) 38- 58. Reprinted in The Scientific Enterprise in Early Modern Europe: Readings from Isis, ed. Peter Dear (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997), pp. 133-53. Helden, Albert Van. Telescope, invention of (to ca. 1630). pp509-511. History of Astronomy - an Encyclopedia. John Lankford, ed. N.Y.: Garland, 1997. Helden, Albert Van. Telescopes and Authority from Galileo to Cassini. Osiris, 9 (1994) 9-29. Helden, Albert Van. The Virgin and the Telescope: The Moons of Cigoli and Galileo. Science in Context 13: 3/4 (2000) 463-486. (Sidereus Nuncius or The Sidereal Messenger) By Galileo Galilei. Translated with introduction, conclusion and notes by Albert Van Helden. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1989. Winkler, Mary G. and Albert Van Helden. Representing the Heavens: Galileo and Visual Astronomy. Isis 83 (1992)195-217. ======================================== Henry King. The History of the Telescope. 1979. 456pp. The House of Dollond: Two Hundred Years of Optical Service, 1750-1950. 1950. Henry Charles King was born in London in 1915, and educated at Sir William Borlase School, Marlow. For his thirteenth birthday, his father presented him with Robert Ball, 'The Story of the Heavens', beginning an interest in astronomy. After soliciting assistance from an optician and his science teacher, he fabricated the first of many telescopes and began a survey of the night sky. In 1932 they moved to Slough, home of William Herschel. Henry contacted Lady Constance Lubbock, Herschel's grand-daughter, and was granted permission to use the historic books, letters, and papers in the Herschel library. At London University, King received a degree in astronomy and mathematics, then M.Sc. and Ph.D degrees in the history and philosophy of science. His career was in ophthalmic optics, in both industry and in education. King was Senior Lecturer in ophthalmic optics at Northampton College of Advanced Technology in London for seven years in the 1950s. In the late 1930s, King moved to Slough, near Observatory House, built an observatory and proceeded to build telescopes and observe variable stars. 'The History of the Telescope' was written mostly during WWII, using resources limited to those in London and Oxford, and in 1951 the manuscript was the thesis for his Ph.D degree at the University of London. --Based largely on notes in 'The London Planetarium', 1962. Scientific Director & Chief Astronomer of the London Planetarium. Curator of the McLaughlin Planetarium, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. President of the British Astronomical Association. Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society Fellow of the British Optical Association. Image of King: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/King-Henry.jpg 57 kb Published work by Henry King: King, Henry C. Astronomy. New York: Watts, 1960. King, Henry C. The Background of Astronomy. C. Watts, 1956. N. Y.: G. Braziller, 1958. King, Henry C. Book of astronomy. London & Glasgow: Collins, 1966. King, Henry C. The Christmas star. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1970. King, Henry C. Development of the Planetarium. J.B.A.A. 70 (Jan. 1960) 8-19. King, Henry C. Exploration of the Universe, the story of astronomy. London: Secker & Warburg, 1964. King, Henry C. Frescoes of the night sky. Toronto: CBC Learning Systems, Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 1970-1979. (Sound Recording) King, Henry C. From here to infinity. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1970. King, Henry C. Geared to the Stars: the evolution of planetariums, orreries, and astronomical clocks. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1978. In collaboration with John R. Millburn. 442pp. King, H.C. Grubb, Howard. Grubb, Thomas. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Charles Gillispie, ed. New York: Scribner, 1970--. King, H.C. Hadley, John. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Charles Gillispie, ed. New York: Scribner, 1970--. King, Henry C. The History of the Telescope. London: Charles Griffin, 1955. Cambridge, Mass.: Sky Pub., 1955. New York: Dover Publications, 1979. 456pp. King, Henry C. The House of Dollond: Two Hundred Years of Optical Service, 1750- 1950. London: Dollond and Aitchison, 1950. (not in Worldcat) King, H.C. Lassell, William. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Charles Gillispie, ed. New York: Scribner, 1970--. King, Henry C. The Life and Optical Work of W.H. Wollaston. British Journal of Physiological Optics 11 (Jan. 1954) 10-31, 60. King, Henry C. The London Planetarium. The Observatory 78 (April 1958) 69-72. King, Henry C. The London Planetarium. London: The Planetarium, 1962. King, Henry C. London's New Planetarium. Sky and Telescope 17 (July 1958) 440. King, Henry C. Look at the Stars. London: H. Hamilton, 1960. New York: Coward- McCann, 1962. (Juvenile) King, Henry C. The McLaughlin Planetarium. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1968. King, Henry C. Pictorial guide to the stars. New York: Crowell, 1967. King, Henry C. The Planetarium. Endeavour 18 (Jan. 1959) 35-44. King, Henry C. On Planetarium Experiences, Old and New. Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Newsletter 69 (1975) L10. King, Henry C. Our world in space; an easy guide to the universe. Philadelphia: Macrae Smith, 1964 King, Henry C. Pictorial guide to the stars. New York: Crowell 1967. King, Henry C. The Planet Venus. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1970. King, Henry C. The Star of Bethlehem. Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Newsletter 68 (1974) L25 King, Henry C. Tackle astronomy this way. London: S. Paul, 1962. King, Henry C. Worlds in Space. King, Henry C. The world of the moon. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1966. King, Henry C. The Zeiss Planetarium. J.B.A.A. 65 (April 1955) 209-214. Millburn, John R., in collaboration with Henry C. King. Wheelwright of the heavens: the life and work of James Ferguson, FRS. London: Vade-Mecum Press, 1988. ======================================== Donald E. Osterbrock. Eye on the Sky: Lick Observatory's First Century. (with Gustafson & Unruh) Pauper & Prince: Ritchey, Hale, & Big American Telescopes. Yerkes Observatory, 1892-1950: The birth, near death, and resurrection of a scientific research institution. Osterbrock (1924--) is a professional astronomer, and in his career used the 40 inch refractor at Yerkes, the 60 and 100 inch reflectors at Mount Wilson, the 120 inch at Lick, and the 200 inch Mt. Palomar telescope. After obtaining a PhD from the University of Chicago in 1952, he taught for a year at Princeton, was a professor at California Institute of Technology until 1958, followed by University of Wisconsin, and in 1973 by University of California Santa Cruz, supervising in total over 20 Ph.D. theses. Several fellowships were held at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Osterbrock served as the President of the American Astronomical Society from1988 to1990; and as Director of Lick Observatory from 1973-1981, a period when Lick was upgrading facilities and when the plans for the 10 meter Keck telescopes were begun. Research achievements include a model of the internal structure of the sun using mass motions in convective zones, which contributed to the understanding of stellar structure and evolution. Another successful model concerned the extreme temperatures of the solar corona, shown to be derived from the mechanical energy carried by compression waves from inside the sun. A theoretical analysis involving convective envelopes assisted in the understanding of red dwarf stars. Gaseous nebulae are another major field of research, using the discoveries of atomic physics to build a model for the heating, cooling, and chemistry of interstellar gas; and Osterbrock's 'Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae' (1974) and 'Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae & Active Galactic Nuclei' (1989) have for many years been the standard textbooks on the subject. Research on the physics of ionized gases was also applied to planetary nebulae. Theory and observation of active galaxies and their nuclei is another significant contribution. Historical studies focus on the large telescopes and observatories built in the U.S. since 1888. ---------- Selected bibliography, topics related to the history telescopes: Briggs, John W. and Donald E. Osterbrock. The challenges and frustrations of a veteran astronomical optician: Robert Lundin, 1880-1962. Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 1:2 (1998) 93-103. Duerbeck, H.W., D.E. Osterbrock, L.H. Barrera S., R. Leiva G. Halfway from La Silla to Paranal - in 1909. ESO Messenger 95 (March 1999) 34-37. (Chilean National Observatory & Lick Observatory). Osterbrock, D.E. AAS Meetings Before There Was an AAS: The Pre-History of the Society. p3ff. The First West Coast Meeting of the AAS. pp37ff. The American Astronomical Society's First Century. Editor, David H. DeVorkin. Washington, DC: American Institute of Physics, 1999. Osterbrock, D.E. The Appointment of a Physicist as Director of the Astronomical Center of the World. Journal for the History of Astronomy 23:3 (1992) 155-165. Osterbrock, D.E. Astronomer for All Seasons: Heber D. Curtis. Mercury 30 (May- June 2001) 24-31. Osterbrock, D.E. The California-Wisconsin Axis in American Astronomy. Sky and Telescope 51 (Jan. 1976) 9-14; 51 (Feb. 1976) 91-97. Osterbrock, D.E. The Canada France Hawaii Telescope and George Willis Ritchey's Great Telescopes of the Future. Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 87:1 (Feb. 1993) 51-63. Osterbrock, D.E. Chandra and his students at Yerkes Observatory. Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy 17 (Dec. 1996) 233-268. Osterbrock, D.E. To Climb the Highest Mountain - W.W. Campbell's 1909 Mars Expedition to Mount-Whitney. Journal for the History of Astronomy 20:2 (1989) 77- 97. Osterbrock, D.E. Don Hendrix, Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories Master Optician of Schmidt Cameras and Large Telescopes. Journal of the Antique Telescope Society #21 (2001) 2-10. Osterbrock, D.E.; J.A. Gwinn; & R.S. Brashear. Edwin Hubble and the expanding universe. Scientific American 269 (July 1993) 84-89. Osterbrock, Donald E., John R. Gustafson, and W.J. Shiloh Unruh. Eye on the Sky: Lick Observatory's First Century. Berkeley: U. of California Press, 1988. Osterbrock, D.E. Failure and Success: Two early experiments with concave gratings in stellar spectroscopy. Journal for the History of Astronomy 17 (1986) 119-129. Osterbrock, D.E. Fifty Years Ago: Astronomy; Yerkes Observatory; Morgan, Keenan, Kellman. pp199-214. The MK Process at 50 Years. A powerful tool for astrophysical insight. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, Proceedings of a Workshop of the Vatican Observatory, held in Tucson Arizona, September 1993. San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 1994. Edited by Chris Corbally, R. O. Gray, and R. F. Garrison. Osterbrock, Donald and John Briggs. The First Alvan Clark & Sons Largest Refracting Telescope in the World. Journal of the Antique Telescope Society #16 (1999) 11-13. Osterbrock, D.E. First World Astronomy Meeting in America. Sky and Telescope 56 (Sept. 1978) 180-181. (Congress of Astronomy & Astrophysics, 1893) Osterbrock, D.E. A Fortunate Life in Astronomy. Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics 38 (2000) 1-33. Osterbrock, D.E. Founded in 1895 by George E. Hale and James E. Keeler: The Astrophysical Journal Centennial. Astrophysical Journal 438 (January 1995) 1-7. Osterbrock, D.E. Getting the Picture: Wide-field Astronomical Photography from Barnard to the Achromatic Schmidt 1888-1992. Journal for the History of Astronomy 25:1 (1994) 1-14. Osterbrock, D.E. Herman Zanstra, Donald H. Menzel, and the Zanstra Method of Nebular Astrophysics. Journal for the History of Astronomy 32:2 (2001) 93-108. Osterbrock, D.E. An Infrared Astronomer's Early Vision of Airborne Astronomy: Paul Merrill 1920. pp619-622. Airborne Astronomy; Symposium on the Galactic Ecosystem: From Gas to Stars to Dust. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series Volume 73, 1995. Osterbrock, D.E.; and D.P. Cruikshank. J. E. Keeler's discovery of a gap in the outer part of the A ring. Icarus 53 (Feb. 1983) 165-173. (Saturn Conference, Tucson, AZ, May 11-15, 1982.) Osterbrock, D.E. James E. Keeler: Pioneer American Astrophysicist and the Early Development of American Astrophysics. Cambridge: University Press, 1984. Osterbrock, D.E. James E. Keeler: Pioneer Astrophysicist. Physics Today 32:2 (1979) 40-47. Osterbrock, D.E.; and Dale P. Cruikshank. Keeler's Gap in Saturn's A Ring. Sky and Telescope 64 (August 1982) 123-126. Osterbrock, D.E. Leuschner, Armin and the Berkeley Astronomical Department. Astronomy Quarterly 7:2 (1990) 95ff. Osterbrock, D.E. Lick Observatory: the first century. Mercury 17 (1988) 34-42. Osterbrock, D.E. Lick Observatory Solar Eclipse Expeditions. Astronomy Quarterly 3 (1980) 67-79. Osterbrock, D. E.; L.W. Fredrick, F.K. Edmondson, and M. Schwarzchild. Mcvittie and the American Astronomical Society. Vistas in Astronomy 33:1 (1990) 75ff. Osterbrock, D.E. The Nature of Saturn's Rings - Keeler's Prettiest Application of Doppler's Principle. Mercury 14:2 (April 1985) 46ff. Osterbrock, D.E. Nicholas T. Bobrovnikoff and the Scientific Study of Comet Halley 1910. Mercury 15:2 (April 1986) 46ff. Osterbrock, D.E. The observational approach to cosmology: U.S. observatories pre- World War II. pp247-289. Modern Cosmology in Retrospect. ed. B. Bertotti, et al. Cambridge: C.U.P., 1990. Osterbrock, D.E. Pauper & Prince: Ritchey, Hale, & Big American Telescopes. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1993. 359 pages. Osterbrock, Donald E. The Physics of Gaseous Nebulae. P.A.S.P. 100 (1988) 412- 426. Osterbrock, D. E. Pioneer Nebular Theorists from Zanstra to Seaton and Beyond. pp1-7. Ionized Gaseous Nebulae, a Conference to Celebrate the 60th Birthdays of Silvia Torres-Peimbert and Manuel Peimbert, Mexico City, November 21-24, 2000. (Eds. W. J. Henney, J. Franco, M. Martos, & M. Pena) Revista Mexicana de Astronomia y Astrofisica (Serie de Conferencias) Vol. 12, 2002. Osterbrock, D.E. The Quest for More Photons: How Reflectors Supplanted Refractors as the Monster Telescopes of the Future at the End of the Last Century. The Astronomy Quarterly 5 (1985) 87-95. Osterbrock, D.E. The Rise and Fall of Edward S. Holden. Journal for the History of Astronomy 15:2 (1984) 81-127; 15:3 (1984) 151-176. Osterbrock, D.E. 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From 1938 to 1941, he apprenticed as an ophthalmologic optician at the Krille optical company in Schwerin (founded in 1851), and remained as an employee though 1945. During these years, Riekher was involved in amateur astronomy and mirror making. After WW II, he began building machinery for optical fabrication, and founded an optical shop in Schwerin for manufacturing lenses for spectacles and other uses. In 1951, Riekher met Dr. Ernst Lau, a professor and the manager of the Optical Laboratory of the Academy of Science in Berlin, founded 1948. With the assistance of Lau, Riekher began precision optical design and fabrication for scientific researchers. The Optical Laboratory evolved to become the Central Institute for Optics and Spectroscopy of the Academy of Science. Riekher was engineer and manager in the optical technology department, developing precision optics for interferometry, spectroscopy, crystal optics, laser applications, and methods for testing and measurement. In 1953, the first progressive power lenses for eyeglasses were developed, tested, patented, and manufactured; by E. Lau, G. Jaeckel and R. Riekher. After 1959, further research on progressive power eyeglasses were continued by R. Riekher and G. Minkwitz. Riekher improved the fabrication of aspheres, resulting in the TRIROTA-SL machinery and methods, used in the infrared Fourier spectrometer for a mission to Venus, and used in research on laser-controlled nuclear fusion. Riekher retired from this career in 1987. Since the early 1950s, Rieker has studied the history of optics, lecturing since 1953 on the history of telescopes, publishing 'Fernrohre und ihre Meister' in 1957, and a second, enlarged edition in 1990. An English translation is in progress in 2002. Rolf Riekher is also the co-author of extensive contributions to 'Brockhaus ABC der Optik', (Leipzig 1961; Hanau 1962, 1970 and 1975; Vienna 1962), which was was the forerunner of the two-volume 'Lexikon der Optik', (Spektrum, Heidelberg & Berlin, 1999). Volumes 4 and 6 of the series 'Wissenschaftshistorische Adlershofer Splitter', Berlin 1998 & 2000, include contributions by Rolf Riekher titled 'Geschichte des Akademie-Institutes fuer Optik und Spektroskopie'. In 1958, Riekher was honoured for his work as 'Verdienter Erfinder' (deserved inventor); in 1978 he received the 'National Award'; and in 2001 he was elected Honorary Member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer angewandte Optik (DGaO). --Andreas Maurer ======================================== Rolf Willach. Rolf Willach studied applied physics and astronomy, and for ten years was an assistant in the astronomical institute in Bern. Written sources and documents are secondary to his research, which focuses on the instruments themselves, to deduce the manufacturing techniques used by their makers, and the development of optical components over time. Willach, Rolf. The Development of Lens Grinding and Polishing Techniques in the First Half of the 17th Century. Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society 68 (2001) 10-15. Willach, Rolf. The Development of Telescope Optics in the Middle of the Seventeenth Century. Annals of Science 58 (2001) 381-398. Willach, Rolf. The Early History of the Achromatic Telescope Objective. Journal of the Antique Telescope Society #12 (1997) 4-13. Willach, Rolf. James Short and the Development of the Reflecting Telescope. Journal of the Antique Telescope Society #20 (2001) 3-18. Willach, Rolf. New Light on the Invention of the Achromatic Telescope Objective. Notes & Records of the Royal Society of London 50:2 (1996) 195-210. Willach, Rolf. The Wiesel Telescopes in Skokloster Castle and their Historical Background. Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society #73 (2002) 17-22. (Rheita) Translations, from Latin into German, from: Francisco Fontana. Novae coelestium, terrestrium rerum observationes. Naples, 1646. Huygens, excerpts. Carlo Antonio Manzini, L'occhiale all'occhio, Dioptrica Pratica. Bologna,1660. Antonius Maria Schyrlaeus de Rheita. Oculus Enoch et Eliae sive radius sidero- mysticus. Antwerp. Hieronymi Sirturi. Telescopium; sive Ars Perficiendi Novum. Frankfurt: 1618. (SIS Bulletin 68.) ======================================== Helen Wright; Helen Wright Greuter. Explorer of the Universe: a biography of George Ellery Hale. 1966. The Great Palomar telescope. 1953. Hale, George Ellery. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. 1970. James Lick's Monument: the saga of Captain Richard Floyd and the building of the Lick Observatory. 1987. The Legacy of George Ellery Hale. (Editor) 1972. Palomar: The World's Largest Telescope. 1952. Porter, Russell Williams. Dictionary of American Biography. 1974. Ritchey, George Willis. Dictionary of American Biography. 1973. Helen Wright was born 20 December 1914 in Washington, D.C., and died 23 October, 1997 in Washington, D.C. She attended Bennett Junior College; received an A.B. from Vassar in 1937, an M.A. from Vassar in astronomy in 1939; and further education at University of California, in Laussanne, Switzerland, and in London. She was employed as an assistant at the Vassar astronomy department from 1937 to 1939, was a junior astronomer at the U. S. Naval Observatory in 1942 and 1943, worked at Mt. Wilson, the U.S. Naval Observatory, and the Maria Mitchell Observatory; and was a member of the A.A.S. Wright was asked to write the biography of George Ellery Hale by the National Academy of Sciences, an authorized biography with a requirement of the omission of personal details. ------ Dick, Stephen K. Obituary. I.A.U. Commission 41, History of Astronomy. Newsletter 1997-2000 Triennium, Issue # 2 . April 1998. http://www.astro.uni- bonn.de/~pbrosche/iaucomm41/news/c41_news_02.html Lankford, John. Eloge: Helen Wright, 1914-1997. Isis 90:4 (Dec. 1999) 768-770. Rapport, Samuel Berder and Helen Wright. Astronomy. N.Y.: New York University Press, 1964. Wright, Helen. Explorer of the Universe: a biography of George Ellery Hale. N.Y.: Dutton, 1966. Wright, Helen. The Great Palomar telescope. London: Faber and Faber, 1953. Wright, Helen. Hale, George Ellery. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Charles Gillispie, ed. New York: Scribner, 1970-. Wright, Helen. James Lick's Monument: the saga of Captain Richard Floyd and the building of the Lick Observatory. Cambridge: C.U.P., 1987. Wright, Helen, et al, editors, The Legacy of George Ellery Hale: Evoloution of astronomy and scientific institutions in pictures and documents. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1972. Wright, Helen. Palomar: The World's Largest Telescope. N.Y.: Macmillan, 1952. Wright, Helen. Porter, Russell Williams. Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 4, J. Garraty & E. James, editors. N.Y.: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1974. Wright, Helen. Ritchey, George Willis. Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 3, Edward James, editor. N.Y.: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1973. Wright, Helen. Sweeper in the Sky: a life of Maria Mitchell, the first woman astronomer in America. N.Y.: Macmillian, 1949. Wright, Helen. Editor: The Amazing World of Medicine. Anthropology. Archaeology. Biology. The Case of Bituminous Coal. The Crust of the Earth: an Introduction to Geology. Great Adventures in Medicine. Great Adventures in Nursing. Great Adventures in Science. Great Adventures with Wild Animals. Great Explorers. Great Undersea Adventures. Mathematics. Physics. Readings in the Physical Sciences. Science: Method and Meaning. A Treasury of Science. To the Moon a Distillation of the Great Writings from Ancient Legend to Space Exploration. ======================================== home page: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/binotele.htm 29 October 2002