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Essay Unit 16 - Astronomy and Space Science Assignment B
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Part B of Unit 16 Astronomy and Space Science in BTEC Applied Science. Achieving a DISTINCTION. For discounts, message me!
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Section 1 – TelescopesTelescopes are scientific instruments used to observe and study objects in space. They have played a
vital role in the field of astronomy for centuries, allowing scientists to explore the universe beyond
what is visible to the naked eye.
There are two main types of telescopes: refracting and reflecting. Refracting telescopes use lenses to
bend light and focus it onto a single point, while reflecting telescopes use mirrors to reflect light back
to a focal point. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages, but modern telescopes often use
a combination of both.
Telescopes can be found on Earth or in space, with space-based telescopes offering clearer images
due to not being affected by atmospheric distortion. Some famous examples include the Hubble Space
Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.
With advanced technology, telescopes continue to reveal new discoveries about our universe, such as
distant galaxies, black holes, and exoplanets. They play an important role in expanding our knowledge
of the cosmos and inspiring future generations of astronomers.
Modern astronomy has been revolutionized by the development of different types of telescopes, each
with its unique capabilities and limitations. The use of these telescopes has allowed astronomers to
explore the cosmos in unprecedented detail, from studying distant galaxies to investigating the
properties of exoplanets.
Optical telescopes are perhaps the most familiar type of telescope, using mirrors or lenses to focus
visible light. Radio telescopes, on the other hand, detect radio waves emitted by celestial objects and
can penetrate dust clouds that block visible light. Infrared telescopes observe heat radiation emitted by
objects in space, while X-ray telescopes detect high-energy radiation from sources such as black holes
and neutron stars.
Telescopes are also used in conjunction with other instruments, such as spectrometers and cameras, to
collect data about celestial objects. Adaptive optics systems can correct for atmospheric distortion and
provide sharper images.
In conclusion, modern astronomy relies heavily on a range of specialized telescopes that allow us to
study the universe in different wavelengths of light. By combining data from multiple instruments and
observing techniques, astronomers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of our place in the
cosmos.
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation. Telescopes are
instruments designed to detect and capture various types of electromagnetic radiation emitted by
celestial objects. Different telescopes use different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to view the
universe.
Optical telescopes, such as refractors and reflectors, use visible light to observe objects in space. They
operate at observatories located on high mountains or in space. Radio telescopes, on the other hand,
use radio waves to detect radio emissions from celestial objects. They are usually located in remote
areas with low levels of interference from human-made signals. X-ray telescopes observe high-energy
X-rays emitted by celestial objects such as black holes and neutron stars. They operate in space
because Earth's atmosphere blocks most X-rays. Infrared telescopes detect infrared light that is
invisible to the human eye but can reveal information about temperature and chemical composition.
They can be located on Earth or in space depending on their specific needs. Each telescope operates
differently depending on its design and operating wavelength range.
,However, all help us understand our universe better by revealing hidden details about distant galaxies,
stars, and planets.
There are various types of telescopes that use different wavelengths of light to capture images of
celestial objects. Each telescope has its own unique features and capabilities, allowing scientists to
explore the cosmos in different ways.
Optical telescopes, which use visible light, are the most common type of telescope. They can be used
for both terrestrial and astronomical observations. The Hubble Space Telescope is an example of an
optical telescope that has captured some of the most iconic images of our universe. Infrared telescopes
detect heat radiation emitted by objects in space. They can see through dust clouds and have helped
astronomers discover new stars and planets. The Spitzer Space Telescope is an example of an infrared
telescope. Radio telescopes detect radio waves emitted by objects in space, allowing scientists to
study cosmic phenomena such as black holes and pulsars. The Atacama Large Millimetre Array
(ALMA) is a state-of-the-art radio telescope located in Chile. Overall, each type of telescope provides
a unique perspective on the universe, helping scientists better understand the mysteries beyond our
planet Earth.
P2: Describe how different types of telescopes are used for astronomical observation
Light telescopes
Refracting telescope:
A refracting telescope is a type of telescope that uses lenses to gather and focus light. It works by
bending the light rays that pass through its lenses, which then converge at a focal point where the
image is formed. Refracting telescopes have been in use since the early 17th century and are still
widely used today.
Light moves through a hoover in a straight line and at a maximum speed of around 3.0 108 m/s. Glass
and air are examples of different media through which light moves more slowly. Some light will
reflect off the surface of the new medium as it passes from one to the other. Depending on how
quickly it can move through each medium, the light that continues through it will either speed up or
slow down. For instance, air and water both move objects more swiftly than light. The difference
between the speed of light in the medium and the speed of light in a vacuum is known as a material's
refractive index. The greater the substance's refractive index, the lighter it slows down.
Light will change speed but not direction if it reaches the new medium at an angle of right angles to
the surface. Its speed and direction will alter if it approaches at an angle. Whether light travels through
the new medium more quickly or more slowly determines the path it takes. Think about driving a car
from a paved street to a sandy beach. Straight ahead, the car will slow down but not alter course as
you near the shore. The automobile will turn in the direction of the tyre that struck the sand first if you
approach the beach at an angle, causing one tyre to be slowed down by the sand before the other. The
same concept applies to light, which bends towards the normal when entering a medium with a higher
index of refraction and away from the normal when entering a faster-moving medium. As seen in the
, picture below, light enters glass from air and bends away from the normal on the way in and towards
it on the way out.
Diagram illustrating the direction shifts
that occur when light enters and exits a
material having a greater index of
refraction.
The main advantage of refracting telescopes is their ability to provide clear and sharp images with
high contrast. This is because they use lenses instead of mirrors to focus the light, which reduces the
amount of light lost due to reflection or absorption. Another advantage of refracting telescopes is their
simplicity and ease of use. However, one limitation of refracting telescopes is their size and weight.
As the aperture size increases, so does the length and weight of the telescope, making it more difficult
to transport and set up. Additionally, chromatic aberration can occur when different colours of light
are focused on slightly different points, causing distortion in the image. Overall, despite some
limitations, refracting telescopes remain a popular choice for amateur astronomers due to their clear
images and ease of use.
Reflector telescopes:
Reflector telescopes, also known as reflecting telescopes, were first invented in the 17th century by
Sir Isaac Newton. These telescopes use a curved mirror to reflect light and form an image instead of
using lenses like refractor telescopes. This design allows for larger apertures at a lower cost than
refractors, making them popular among amateur astronomers.
The primary mirror of a reflector telescope collects light and reflects it back to a secondary mirror,
which then redirects the light through an eyepiece or camera. The quality of the image produced by a
reflector telescope depends on the precision of its mirrors and their coatings. One downside to
reflector telescopes is that they require regular maintenance to keep their mirrors clean and properly
aligned. Additionally, they can be bulky and difficult to transport compared to smaller refractor
telescopes. Despite these drawbacks, reflector telescopes remain popular among astronomers for their
affordability and ability to collect more light than refractors. They are particularly useful for
observing faint objects like galaxies or nebulae.
Newtonian telescope:
The Newtonian telescope is a type of reflecting telescope that was invented by Sir Isaac Newton in the
17th century. It consists of a concave primary mirror and a flat secondary mirror that reflects the light
back through a hole in the centre of the primary mirror. This design allows for a wider field of view
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