This assignment focuses on telescopes, what they are and what they are used for, how they work, different types of telescopes, the main types of telescopes, the various magnifications of the telescopes, tabulated information of names, magnification, picture and mission of the telescopes, another ta...
Unit 16 Astronomy: Assignment 2 Observing and recording
astronomical objects.
Introduction/What is a telescope? A telescope is an optical piece of
equipment used to identify and observe objects that are distant and
cannot be seen properly with the naked eye. It can be used by many
people for various specific reasons for instance, astronomers to see
faraway objects, to focus light from the night sky. Biologists use
telescopes to look at different organisms in the laboratory.
Pharmaceutical companies use telescopes to examine drugs carefully
before releasing them to the public. There are three main types of
telescopes and these are: Newtonian telescopes, Schmidt-
Cassegrain telescope and refracting telescopes. Astronomers
however use telescopes such as The Hubble Space Telescope,
reflecting telescopes and refractor type telescopes. The
magnification of a telescope is specific to the particular telescope so
they have different types of magnifications.
Figure 1 shows a picture of a telescope.
B.P2: In Astronomy there are specific types of telescopes used to
get information from space and the atmosphere. All the telescopes
used nowadays in astronomy are modern day telescopes which help
gather information form the electromagnetic spectrum far beyond
the range of the visible light. The table below shows a few of modern
,telescopes that have been or are still investigating outer space or
earth.
Table of Modern telescopes used in astronomy today.
Name of Magnifica Picture of telescope Mission
telescop tion of of the
e telescope telescope
.
Hubble Mirror is The
Space 96inches Hubble
Telesco in Telescope
pe. diameter. was sent
Full to space
magnifica to
tion is observe
96x60= the most
5760powe faraway
r. stars and
galaxies
and other
planets in
our solar
system.
Newtoni Magnifica This
an tion of the telescope
Telesco telescope was used
pe. was to help
35times. scientists
Focal be able to
Length solve a
was large
4.5mm. number
of cosmic
mysteries
.
,Hale Magnifica The hale
Telesco tion of the telescope
pe. telescope discovere
is d the first
brown
dwarf
star.
William The This
Hersche magnifica telescope
l tion of the s was
Telesco telescope designed
pe. had power to reveal
up to a face of
6,450. the early
universe
that was
previousl
y
concealed
.
BTA- 6 It has a Was
Telesco 20feet known to
pe. optical be the
lense. largest
telescope
built in
1992.
,Gemini Magnifica This
North tion of this telescope
Summit. telescope helps six
is 8.1m. different
countries
to
observe
time in
accordanc
e with
each of
the
country’s
contributi
on.
Giant Focal This
Magella length is telescope
n 18,202.7m explores
Telesco . the
pe. universes
past for
example
first stars,
galaxies
black
holes and
the big
bang.
, James It has a Its goal is
Webb magnifica to try and
Telesco tion of discover
pe. 6.5m. more
than the
Hubble
telescope
did with
longer
coverage
and
waveleng
th.
How and where are the telescopes built? What are the
electromagnetic spectrums of all the telescopes?
Name of telescope. How the telescope Electromagnetic
was built? Spectrum of
Telescope.
Newtonian This telescope was Used the spectrum
Telescope. built using metals, a colours of ultraviolet
mirror and different and infrared parts.
polishing ways.
Hale Telescope. It was made from a It has ultraviolet
material called Pyrex spectrum inside.
which is also known
as borosilicate glass.
William Herschel It was made with a This telescope has
Telescope. metal disk, 6inch infrared light in its
mirror, copper and spectrum.
tin.
BTA-6 Telescope. It was made with Gamma Spectrum
aluminium coatings. was used in this
telescope.
, Gemini North Lithium and It collects infrared
Summit Telescope. aluminium coatings light.
were used in the
building of this
telescope.
Giant Magellan The mirrors of this Collects infrared light
Telescope. telescope were for the telescope.
made out of
borosilicate glass
with a honeycomb
structure below the
surface of the mirror.
James Webb It was built with the It uses a mix of
Telescope. mirror in sections on infrared and
a structure that folds ultraviolet light.
up like leaves that
can fold during
launching and unfold
after launch phase.
Hubble Space The Hubble Uses Visible light in
Telescope. telescope was made the telescope.
with two mirrors and
a concave.
How are these telescopes used on Earth? How do they operate?
The telescopes on the surface of the earth are used by astronomers
and learners for mainly collection of data and looking at the stars and
other objects in the night/day sky. Although the telescopes we have
here on earth with us help us to get information or data they are not
entirely the best to obtain certain information from the night sky or
beyond the sky because the naked eye and the earth-based
telescopes are not that powerful to get that information. So Science
Organisations like NASA and the US government built telescopes that
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