Modern telescopes are amazing tools. Scientists use a wide variety of advanced telescope technology to explore the universe and make advances in the fields of cosmology and astronomy. In the short videos below, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman provides insightful information about different types of telescopes, including space telescopes, radio telescopes, the James Webb Space Telescope, and more.
WATCH:
- Modern Telescopes
- What Is a Space Telescope?
- What Do Radio Telescopes Reveal?
- Does The James Webb Telescope Make Other Telescopes Obsolete?
- What Is Spectroscopy?
Modern Types of Telescopes
What is the current state of telescopes in astronomy? What types of telescopes are more effective than others? Can modern telescopes see into other universes beyond our own? Find out in the video below.
What Type of Telescope Is a Space Telescope?
Space telescopes are among the types of telescopes that are put into space to get above Earth's atmosphere. Modern telescopes like space telescopes are particularly advantageous because Earth's atmosphere can blur and filter images. Above the atmosphere, space telescopes are able to capture images with incredible clarity deep in outer space.
What Do Radio Telescopes Do?
Radio telescopes are among the types of telescopes that receive radio waves—information that is invisible in visible light but can convey what's happening in pockets of gas where stars are still forming.
Does The James Webb Telescope Make Other Types of Telescopes Obsolete?
The James Webb Telescope is so advanced it may seem like other types of telescopes aren't necessary anymore. However, the array of information from different types of telescopes allows astronomers to piece together a very valuable and diverse spectrum of data that wouldn't be possible with just one telescope.
What Is Spectroscopy?
Telescopes can also help scientists identify the chemical composition of celestial objects. This is done through a technique called spectroscopy. A spectrograph is a part of a telescope that takes light and then spreads it out into its constituent colors, like a prism, so that scientists can analyze the precise waves of light within, which gives insight into the chemical composition of the place from which that light came.
*Originally published on October 3, 2022.
