Telescopes Portals of Discovery

Telescope A telescope is an instrument designed to aid the observation of remote objects by collecting some form of electromagnetic radiation (such as visible light).

Wavelength

Wavelength & Frequency

The Electromagnet Spectrum

Crab Nebula (In Optical)

Crab Nebula (In Infrared)

Crab Nebula (In Radio)

Crab Nebula (In X-ray)

Telescopes There are many types of telescopes to view in each of the electromagnet spectrums.

Optical (light) Telescopes An optical telescope gathers and focuses light mainly from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum (although some work in the infrared and ultraviolet). They work by employing one or more curved optical elements—usually made from glass—lenses, and/or mirrors to gather light and other electromagnetic radiation to bring that light or radiation to a focal point.

Anatomy of an Optical Telescope

Refracting Telescope The refracting telescope which uses lenses to form an image.

Reflecting Telescope The reflecting telescope which uses an arrangement of mirrors to form an image.

Counting the Stars... 1, 2, 3

Light Pollution Hinders Our View

Keck Observatory (Mauna Kea, Hawaii)

Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff, Arizona)

Kitt Peak National Observatory (Tucson, Arizona)

Radio Telescopes Radio telescopes are directional radio antennas used for radio astronomy.

Radio Telescopes

Arecibo (Puerto Rico)

Space Observatories A space observatory is any instrument in outer space which is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects.

Major Space Observatories

Hubble Space Telescope

Spitzer Space Telescope

Compton Gamma Ray Observatory

Chandra X-ray Observatory

Lunar Telescopes?