The Present and Future of the Telescope of Moderate Size

Book excerpt: Covering the astronomical work achieved with telescopes of moderate size, this volume indicates how recent developments in electronics make it possible for these telescopes to cope with problems formerly attacked only by the largest instruments. Because the future accomplishments of the telescopes of moderate size should be tremendously increased, this book considers both what is being accomplished and what scientists may confidently expect to be able to do in the predictable future. In searching for an appropriate topic for the symposium, the astronomers who have contributed to this volume recognized that although much attention has been devoted in recent years to Schmidt type telescopes, radio telescopes, and very large instruments, a great deal of the useful work has been and is being carried out by conventional telescopes of moderate size. Especially in the fields of astrometry and photometry a rather large fraction of the observations are being made with telescopes within, roughly, an aperture range of twelve to forty inches. Although perhaps the most exciting or novel results will be obtained with the giant reflectors, much of our progress depends upon the unspectacular accumulation and discussion of data and, within the limits of stellar magnitude to which they are suited, the smaller instruments can contribute substantially, meriting the definitive research provided in the pages of this book. Outstanding scientists have contributed to this volume their findings in such matters as image tube development; photoelectric problems in astronomy; investigation of image detectors (sensitivity assessment, equivalent quantum efficiencies, etc.); modern computing machines capable of solving photometric problems; the Newton Lacy Pierce Photometer; the infrared technique for stellar photometry; application of the small telescope to photoelectric problems; photoelectric studies of scintillation of starlight; the upper atmosphere as discerned from studies of stellar scintillation; variable star problems, present and future; and stellar spectroscopy with the mode rate size telescope. The result is a book of vital importance to the student of astronomy who wishes to understand the advances in his field made possible by electronic progress.