First Light (Preston book)
Encyclopedia
First Light: The Search for the Edge of the Universe is a 1987 non-fiction
book on astronomy
and astronomers by Richard Preston
.
The title refers to the astronomical term first light, which is when a telescope is first used to take an astronomical image after it has been constructed. First light also refers to the moment when stars and galaxies first formed out of a dark universe.
on Palomar Mountain
, which was the world's biggest telescope for more than three decades. Preston describes its history and technical details, and he profiles many of the people involved in astronomical research at Palomar. First Light portrays astronomers scanning the solar system
for minor planets and those seeking the outermost astronomical objects in universe. It describes historical events such as the discovery of quasar
s and celebrates the scientists' joy in their endeavors, their obsessions and even their thoughts.
First Light provides neither an index nor a bibliography.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book on astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and astronomers by Richard Preston
Richard Preston
Richard Preston, born August 5, 1954 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., is a New Yorker writer and bestselling author perhaps best-known for his books about infectious disease epidemics and bioterrorism, although he has written other non-fiction works...
.
The title refers to the astronomical term first light, which is when a telescope is first used to take an astronomical image after it has been constructed. First light also refers to the moment when stars and galaxies first formed out of a dark universe.
Content
The central character of First Light is the Hale telescopeHale telescope
The Hale Telescope is a , 3.3 reflecting telescope at the Palomar Observatory in California, named after astronomer George Ellery Hale. With funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, he orchestrated the planning, design, and construction of the observatory, but did not live to see its commissioning...
on Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain is a mountain in the Peninsular Ranges in northern San Diego County. It is famous as the location of the Palomar Observatory and Hale Telescope, and known for the Palomar Mountain State Park.-History:...
, which was the world's biggest telescope for more than three decades. Preston describes its history and technical details, and he profiles many of the people involved in astronomical research at Palomar. First Light portrays astronomers scanning the solar system
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
for minor planets and those seeking the outermost astronomical objects in universe. It describes historical events such as the discovery of quasar
Quasar
A quasi-stellar radio source is a very energetic and distant active galactic nucleus. Quasars are extremely luminous and were first identified as being high redshift sources of electromagnetic energy, including radio waves and visible light, that were point-like, similar to stars, rather than...
s and celebrates the scientists' joy in their endeavors, their obsessions and even their thoughts.
Structure
The book is structured as follows.- Foreword: To Readers and Teachers
- Part 1: Big Eye
- Part 2: The Shoemaker Comets
- Part 3: Gadgeteers
- Part 4: Discoveries
- (List of) Main Characters
- Glossary
- Credits
First Light provides neither an index nor a bibliography.
Criticism
As of today, some of the astronomical approaches and views are out of date. However, First Light is considered one of the best books written about astronomers.Awards
- First Light won the 1988 American Institute of Physics award in science writing.
- Carolyn ShoemakerCarolyn S. ShoemakerCarolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker is an American astronomer and is a co-discoverer of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9. She holds the record for most comets discovered by an individual.- Personal life :...
, who was a subject of First Light, named an asteroidAsteroidAsteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
3792 Preston.