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Telescope

  • Lenses and mirrors allow us to make telescopes
  • Bigger is better
    • Bigger --> more light you can collect, better resolution
    • Bad for glass refractors
      • Hard to make
      • Weight causes sagging
      • Air bubbles distort
      • Opaque at some wavelengths
    • Largest visible-light telescopes today have 8 to 10 meter mirrors

Types

Location of Telescopes

  • On ground
    • Stable, controlled
    • Bigger dishes
    • Atmospheric blurring
  • In space
    • No atmosphere to cause blurring
    • Expensive
    • Difficult to maintain

Astronomy