Telescopes are instruments used for viewing objects at a distance. They can be large or handheld, and their telescoping capability allows for easier transport and use at different heights. Telescoping is also used in flagpoles, ladders, antennas, and even Tibetan temple horns. The word telescope literally means “to see far, and telescopes are very large […]
Online telescopes come in two forms: virtual observatories with existing data and physical telescopes controlled by users. The International Virtual Observatory Alliance collects and standardizes existing data for research. Microsoft® WorldWide Telescope offers a virtual planetarium, while other services offer live observations or direct control of remote telescopes for a fee. Some observatories accept requests […]
The invention of the telescope is unclear, but the basic concept was recognized in 1230. In 1608, Hans Lippershey, Zacharias Janssen, and Jacob Metius are credited with inventing the telescope. Galileo Galilei improved the telescope and made famous discoveries. Reflecting telescopes were invented by Leonard Digges but were impractical until Isaac Newton built the first […]
Equatorial mount telescopes have a clock drive that keeps the Earth’s equatorial axis in sync with the sky’s perpendicular axis. Different types of mounts include open fork, German equatorial, yoke, and equatorial platform. Each has its own advantages and limitations. An equatorial mount telescope is equipped with a clock drive that keeps the Earth’s equatorial […]
The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, is part of NASA’s Great Observatories program and is famous for its Hubble Ultra Deep Field image. It orbits the Earth at an altitude of 589 km, providing advantages over ground-based telescopes. The telescope weighs 11,110 kg and can display optical, ultraviolet, and near-infrared bandwidths. The idea for […]
Radio telescopes collect data from the radio range of the electromagnetic spectrum, amplifying signals from objects such as quarks, planets, and stars. They help astronomers learn about the universe’s nature and origins, and have contributed to theories about the Big Bang. The Earth’s atmosphere interferes with radio waves, so radio telescopes are large and placed […]
The Spitzer Space Telescope is an infrared telescope launched by NASA’s Great Observatories program. It is named after Dr. Lyman Spitzer, Jr. and is known for capturing images of the Andromeda Galaxy and young stellar objects. Its images are free to the public. The Spitzer Space Telescope is an infrared space telescope, the latest of […]
The European Southern Observatory’s Overwhelmingly Large Telescope (OWL) was designed to be a $1.2 billion telescope with a 100-meter lens, but the scale has been reduced to 60 meters. It would be able to observe objects 1000 times fainter than the Hubble Space Telescope and would be located in the lowlands east of Antofagasta, Chile. […]
X-ray telescopes detect high-frequency, short-wavelength energy emissions from areas of hot, high-energy gas in space. Challenges include interference from Earth, requiring telescopes to be launched on rockets or satellites. Data can be represented visually or numerically, and X-ray telescopes are commonly used to study solar activity. Researchers can collaborate with scientific agencies to make observations. […]
