A history of the telescope includes discussion of such related topics as the dark-adapted human eye, interferometry, adaptive optics, and remote sensing.

"Phoebe helps her dad set up telescopes on the sidewalk outside his store. It's a special night --Saturn and Mars are going to appear together in the sky. But will Phoebe be able to see them with all the city lights? Raindrops begin to fall, followed by lightning and thunder. Phoebe is filled with disappointment as she and her father hurry inside to wait out the storm. But suddenly the power fails and then, amazingly, the rain and clouds disappear....

Spacecraft for Astronomy is a compelling examination of the historic events, scientific principles, and technical breakthroughs that enable complex orbiting astronomical observatories to revolutionize our understanding of the universe.

"This book explains the principles of light, lenses, and other key science ideas behind the technology of telescopes, binoculars, and microscopes. The book discusses the history of the inventions, their uses, and how to select one for purchase." -- Amazon.com.

"How did NASA engineers build and launch the most ambitious telescope of all time? Follow the dramatic story of the James Webb Space Telescope -- the most complex machine ever launched into space. If it works, scientists believe that this new eye on the universe will peer deeper back in time and space than ever before to the birth of galaxies, and may even be able to "sniff" the atmospheres of exoplanets as we search for signs of life beyond Earth....