telescopes & astronomy andie

Planets do not twinkle because they are closer and not a single point of light.

We only see the visible range.But stars give off energy in all the wavelengths!

Using light to discover information about the universe.

There are two kinds:

Uses lens to collect the light.

Today’s refracting telescopes!

Uses mirrors to collect light

Reflecting scopeReflecting telescope

Spotting scope - A small refractor to line up the big scope.

Eyepiece for viewing

Today’s reflector

Mount Palomar Observatory Hale Telescope

Inside Mt. Palomar Observatory

Large telescopes are put in observatories to protect them.

Other scopes at Palomar

Look across the mountain tops!

1. Mountain tops above atmospheric haze. Reduces the twinkle effect and distortion.2. Far from city lights ( light pollution).

3. If our atmosphere blocks the wavelength needed to study, then the scope goes into orbit!

Notice which wavelengths are blocked!

The USA at night – notice the light pollution.Where would you put a telescope?

Atlanta

Notice the Great Lakes

Mauna Kea, Hawaii – elevation 13,796 ft

High to “look through” less atmosphere

Multi-mirror reflector in Hawaii

Infrared scope in Hawaii

Infrared scopes “look for” heat and are best at locating new stars just forming.

COBE -An Infrared scope that is in orbit.

Cosmic Background Explorer

It has located very important data about the formation of the universe.

Infrared = heat

The constellation of Orion in visible light energy and infrared energy.These two views see very different things in the same area of the sky!

Radio Telescopes

Records radio waves

Sees to the edges of the universe

VLANewMexico

Very Large Array uses multiple radio telescopes.

VLA from above. They work as a unit kind of like a fly’s eye.

Largest radio scope in the world in the top of an extinct volcano! Puerto Rico

Records UV radiation. Astronomers use this wave length mostly to look at and track what the sun is doing.

Solar & Heliospheric Observatory

This spacecraft has an ultraviolet scope.

The sun in different UV wavelengths.

Records x ray emissions from objects in “deep” space

Best for “looking” for black holes, dying stars, and other strange objects.

Must be above the atmosphere!

ChandraX-Ray scope

X Rays from twoBlack holes in oneGalaxy.

These telescopes are looking for high energy events: black holes, neutron stars and quasars.

Due to their high energy content, Gamma rays are able to cause serious damage when absorbed by living cells. Gamma rays are also able to penetrate dense materials. Aren’t we glad our atmosphere blocks them!

The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory orbits the Earth, detecting high-energy photons – GAMMA RAYS

Takes light from stars and analyzes it.

Light from a star or other source goes through the slit.

Every element has a different set of spectrum lines.

Much like people having different fingerprints.

Krypton’s spectrum

Neon’s spectrum

Emission spectrum

Notice that emission and absorption are the same.