1. What are the advantages of large telescopes? Provide at least one.
In the last 400 years, since Galileo, telescope have been getting bigger and
bigger, because the functionality of this instrument is closely linked by its
diameter.
There are many advantages of larger telescopes, but mostly the bigger the
telescope the sharper and more detailed is the image provided, because
they are capable of collecting more light and able to capture more remote
parts of the universe.
2. Why do astronomers want telescopes in space when putting them there
is expensive?
Telescopes can easily be divided in two big categories: the Space telescopes
(like the Hubble telescope) and the telescopes on earth. Astronomers prefers
telescopes in space because those Earth present a whole of technical
difficulties, starting from the very site where to place a telescope. This place
must be as free as possible from air pollution. It must be in a high place, to
avoid water vapour. Another big disadvantage is presented by the Earth’s
atmosphere that blurs the images, even though there are some actions and
formulas that can correct this defect. Furthermore Earth based telescopes
can not detect most waves of the electromagnetic radiation, since the
atmosphere filters them.
3. What are some examples of wavelength regions beyond the
spectrum of visible light where astronomers can learn about the
universe? Provide at least two.
The invisible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum tell us a lot about how the
universe works: radio waves, infrared waves, x-rays, gamma rays, and
ultraviolet radiation are incredible sources of information.
There are three main wavelength regions beyond the spectrum of visible light
where astronomers can learn about the universe. Since space astronomy is
essential in understanding our universe, NASA approved some missions,
denominated Great Observatories that are the lynchpin in space astronomy.
The Spitzer Space Telescope, which, since its primary cryogen expired, is
working in the so-called warm mode to observe infrared wavelengths.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory and the incredibly famous Hubble Space
Telescope are doing an incredible job in expanding knowledge in many
scientific fields, lie comets and cosmology.
There are other missions that are waiting for approvals and funds, like the
James Webbs Telescope. An incredible project (considered the heir of the
Hubble Space Telescope), that is gigantic, very complicated and will be able
to collect ten times more data than the Hubble Space Telescope and the
Spitzer Space Telescope
In the last 400 years, since Galileo, telescope have been getting bigger and
bigger, because the functionality of this instrument is closely linked by its
diameter.
There are many advantages of larger telescopes, but mostly the bigger the
telescope the sharper and more detailed is the image provided, because they
are capable of collecting more light and able to capture more remote parts of
the universe.
Telescopes can easily be divided in two big categories: the Space telescopes
(like the Hubble Space telescope) and the telescopes on earth. Astronomers
prefers telescopes in space because those Earth present a whole of technical
difficulties, starting from the very site where to place a telescope. This place
must be as free as possible from air pollution. It must be in a high place, to
avoid water vapour. Another big disadvantage is presented by the Earth’s
atmosphere that blurs the images, even though there are some actions and
formulas that can correct this defect. Furthermore Earth based telescopes
can not detect most waves of the electromagnetic radiation, since the
atmosphere filters them.
