Written by a leading MAN engineer with much experience in the field of large telescopes, this all-in-one reference makes the engineering side of telescopes accessible to the astrophysics community. Setting a new standard in comprehensiveness, the text covers the history and system approach to telescopes, analysis, optics, structures, mechanics and thermals, as well as control and realization.

Dr. Kärcher is leading engineer with MAN. He participates in numerous challenging engineering missions, including the SOFIA project, an optical telescope installed aboard a high-flying Boeing jet. He has shown expertise in constructions for astronomy in a variety of industrial papers.