Under The Microscope

FIRST LIGHT: THE SEARCH FOR THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE, by Richard Preston; Transworld, 1998; 319 pp; $21.95

Reviewed by Selwyn Yorke

Light gathering is the key to optical astronomy and no earth-bound "light gatherer" imparts more spectacle and romance than the two hundred inch (5.08m) diameter Hale telescope on Mount Palomar in California.

This Corgi edition is a revision of the original 1987 work and includes a new foreword. The Hale telescope is described as a wonder of the Machine Age, built during the Great Depression. The mirror took 14 years to cast and polish. The surface is so well finished that if the mirror were expanded to the size of the US, the highest blemish would be a mere 10 cm! This does not mean that the mirror is without defects; it isn't, but read the book to learn more...

Preston records comments by the astronomers and their observations on topics from the asteroids to the most distant quasar. Their discussions on technical problems and interests provide a fascinating view into the lives of professional astronomers. Science bookshelves are so laden with the weight of works on black holes, superstrings and our universe's first second, that the need to actually look at the sky appears to have become a secondary issue. First Light helps to redress this as it looks at the solar system, the Milky Way and other galaxies.

The book has its irritating moments. At times there are rather too many adjectives and the ersatz first person dialogue does not fit comfortably into Preston's writing style. He is very good at explaining complex astronomical concepts but he repeats himself quite often.

Don't let the distractions put you off reading this book. It is an excellent account of the Hale telescope, of astronomers at work and of the universe in which we are a very small part. The book should appeal to armchair amateurs and experts alike.

Selwyn Yorke is the Research Manager at New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd.