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The “Galactocentric” Revolution

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Galactic Encounters

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Abstract

At the end of the 19th century, the largest telescope in operation was a refractor 40 inches in diameter. It ruled for a few years into the 20th century, when it was surpassed by the 60—inch refl ector—called the first “modern” telescope—of Mt. Wilson Observatory.1 By the century’s end, the distinction of the world’s largest telescope would be shared by two giant refl ectors, Keck 1 and Keck 2, on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, with mirrors 394 inches (10.4 meters) in diameter, while its most productive and awe-inspiring would be the Hubble Space Telescope, a 94.5-inch (2.4 meter) refl ector orbiting in outer space above the tumultuous sea of the atmosphere of the Earth.

Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood…

—Daniel Burnham, Chicago architect

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References

  1. See: Anthony Misch and William Sheehan, “The First Modern Telescope: the Mount Wilson 60-inch Reflector,” in The 2008 Yearbook of Astronomy, Patrick Moore and John Mason, eds. (London: Macmillan, 2007), 192-221.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Willmar, MN, USA

    William Sheehan

  2. School of Physics and Astronomy University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Christopher J. Conselice

Authors
  1. William Sheehan
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  2. Christopher J. Conselice
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Sheehan, W., Conselice, C.J. (2015). The “Galactocentric” Revolution. In: Galactic Encounters. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85347-5_10

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