Due to low humidity in the winter many people enjoy stargazing this time of year. Stargazers often use telescopes to view the stars.
A telescope is a device that gathers information about the universe and allows man direct observation of the stars. There are several different types of telescopes; most collect some form of electromagnetic radiation. Radio telescopes, infrared telescopes, x-ray telescopes and gamma ray telescopes all collect information about the universe. We are most familiar with optical telescopes.
Optical telescopes collect an intensify light for direct human observation. Because there is no atmosphere in outer space telescopes located in orbit can collect pure samples of light from distant galaxies like the planetary nebula pictured above taken by the Hubble Space telescope. The Hubble will soon retire and be replaced by the orbiting Webb telescope. We look forward to future discoveries!
Useful teacher links:
http://hubblesite.org/ - Official Hubble Space telescope site
http://webbtelescope.org/webb_telescope/ - Official Webb telescope site
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Word of the Week: Telescope
