The Glass Giant of Palomar.

building the world's biggest telescope

First edition, first printing, review copy with the publisher's slip tipped-in. A classic of popular science, cited by University of California astronomer Harlan W. Epps as the book that inspired him to become an astronomer (Epps, "Giant Telescopes", Physics Today, April 2005).

The Glass Giant of Palomar was the first popular account of the dramatic construction of what was then the world's largest telescope, the 200-inch Hale reflecting telescope at Palomar Observatory in San Diego County. It was conceived by astronomer George Ellery Hale (1868-1938), who was responsible for the development of four groundbreaking telescopes in a row, beginning with the 40-inch refracting telescope at the Yerkes Observatory and ending with the Palomar telescope. In addition to its size, double that of the next biggest lens, the Palomar telescope also pioneered new mount and mirror technologies. Planning and construction took twenty years, and Hale did not live to see the telescope's completion, which finally occurred a decade after the publication of the present volume.

First edition, first printing, review copy with the publisher's slip tipped-in on the front free endpaper; 8vo; frontispiece and 15 plates from photographs, illustrations throughout the text, tanning to the front free endpaper from news clipping that was previously tipped-in and is now loosely inserted, some pencil markings in the margins, otherwise contents clean; original blue cloth, titles to spine and upper board gilt, top edge dyed blue, spine tanned, some small marking to cloth, a very good copy in the rubbed and creased jacket with manuscript note about price and date in the lettering on the upper panel, faded spine panel, dulling and marks, and a few small chips and short splits; 368pp.