Astronomy Telescopes | Universe Today

Written by Tammy Plotner

Are you curious about astronomy telescopes? Most people think of astronomy when they think of a telescope, but telescopes are often employed in many other venues such as surveillance, navigation, industry and surveying. While all telescopes, including astronomy telescopes, are meant for one purpose – collecting of electromagnetic radiation from a distant source and focusing it back for study at the other end, there are certain styles of telescopes are better suited towards astronomy than others. As a matter of fact, some of them will only work at certain frequencies! Are you ready to learn more? Then follow along…

Astronomy Telescopes – The Optical Telescope: One of the most easily recognized telescopes for astronomy is the optical telescope which comes in three basic designs: the refracting telescope which uses lenses to form an image, the reflecting telescope which uses an arrangement of mirrors and passes through an eyepiece lens to form an image and the catadioptric telescope which uses mirrors combined with lenses. But did you know there are also many other types of astronomy telescopes which use the optical wavelength as well? The infrared telescope and the ultraviolet telescope gather both those specific wavelengths, and the submillimeter astronomy telescope studies submillimetre wavelength between the far-infrared and microwave wavelength.

Astronomy Telescopes – The Radio Telescope: A radio telescope is a specialized form of astronomy telescope that uses a directional radio antenna usually constructed in a parabolic shape. Their mesh openings are usually smaller than the wavelength being observed and many use multiple elements arranged in groups to perform as whole unit making the aperture, or size of the gathering unit, much larger. Some even collect microwave radiation!

Astronomy Telescopes – High Energy Telescopes: Don't forget there's many facets to the electromagnetic spectrum. When it comes to astronomy telescopes, there's a lot to be found in the X-ray, gamma ray and cosmic ray end, too! These kinds of astronomy telescopes are very specialized because most of these particles go through most metals and glasses and most of them are at home on Earth-orbiting satellites. Some of these types of telescopes are merely rows of detectors, too. Don't forget neutrinos! These very unusual little particles are studied by astronomy telescopes made of water or ice.

Astronomy Telescopes – The Solar Telescope: A solar telescope is also a highly specialized astronomy telescope that's usually designed to study our nearest star at optical wavelengths. Some of these telescopes may project the Sun's image to be studied, while others may block all bandpasses but white light. Still other specialized solar astronomy telescopes deal exclusively in the h-alpha wavelengths, allowing scientists a clear look at solar prominences, flares and granulation. A dedicated solar telescope can also be a spectrohelioscope, one that only studies the Sun through its spectrum. Many amateurs also enjoy studying the Sun and inexpensive solar filters that use white light are readily available as well as specialized h-alpha telescopes!

Filed under: Astronomy