The Perfect Machine
Ronald Florence
By
Geary Keilman
I picked up my copy of the Perfect Machine at, of all places, the Palomar Mt. Observatory gift shop. As soon as I started reading it, I could hardly put it down. Author Ronald Florence begins the book with the events leading up to and during the "Great Debate" in Washington, D.C. in the year 1921 between astronomers Harlow Shapley of the Mt. Wilson Observatory and Heber Curtis of the Lick Observatory as to the size of the Milky Way Galaxy. The debate grew national media coverage due to the presence of Alfred Einstein who was attending as a guest. While the debate did little to settle the question of the size the Milky Way, it did point out the need for telescopes with more light grasp than even the great 100" Hooker Telescope at Mt. Wilson could provide. Florence then tells the story of how the 200" inch Hale Telescope was conceived, designed, funded, and built. The 200" was the Apollo space program of its age. No scientific project that preceded it would cost so much, take longer to build, involve more of the best minds in the scientific, education and engineering communities and grab more of the imagination and interest of the pubic. For nearly half a century, the 200" was the scientific icon. The nearly temple like aura of the telescope dome and building was the very symbol for "scientific".
Florence explains the technical aspects of the story in terms the general public can understand while at the same time keeping the discussion at a level so as not to lose the significance of the details. He also opens a window to the life and times of the period just before the "Big Eye" was conceived until it's completion in the late 1940's. The story of the 200" is one of people as much as machine and Florence does a wonderful job of describing the personalities, strengths and faults of the individuals involved with the project. Though the book is not profusely illustrated, it does have some interesting photos and the incredible Russell Porter renderings of the great machine, many of which are displayed in Robinson Hall at Caltech. You to will have a hard time putting this book down and, like me, may reread the book several times. Those planning a visit to the observatory will find the tour much more interesting after having read the Perfect Machine.
The book is available in paper back from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble for about $20 plus shipping. Amazon also has used copies available from $11. At last look, the Clark County Library did not have the book available.
The story of the Hale telescope is a good read. I have read the book several times and, like a good movie, it never gets old.