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Angular Resolution
The ability of an optical system to distinguish between closely spaced objects.
Single Lens Refractor
A simple telescope design that uses a single lens to bend light and form an image.
Object Size and Distance
The factors that determine how an object appears in a telescope, including its actual size and distance from the observer.
Newtonian Reflector
A type of telescope that uses a curved mirror to collect light and form an image.
Doubling Sun's Temperature
If the Sun's temperature is doubled, it produces 16 times more energy.
Kelvin
A unit of measurement for temperature, used in scientific contexts.
Resolution Decrease
When the dimensions of an optical system are halved, the resolution typically decreases by a factor of 2.
Reflection
The bouncing back of light when it hits a reflective surface.
Ultraviolet
A type of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than visible light.
Wavelength and Aperture
The wavelength of incoming light can get shorter or the telescope's aperture can become larger to improve light collection.
Blackbody Curve
A graphical representation of the radiation emitted by a blackbody, used to find the peak wavelength.
Refraction
The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
Transmits Light Well
An optical material that allows a majority of light to pass through it.
Absorbs Most Light
A material or surface that takes in most of the light instead of reflecting it.
Radio Waves
Electromagnetic waves with longer wavelengths, often used in communication.
Light Diffraction
The phenomenon where light waves bend around corners or edges.
Image Quality Measurement
A measure of the clarity and detail of an image affected by atmospheric conditions.
Infrared
A type of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than visible light.
Distinguishing Adjacent Objects
The ability of a telescope to resolve two nearby celestial objects as separate entities.
Visible and Radio Waves
Both types of electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by various telescopes.
Wavelength Measurement
A measurement of the distance between successive peaks of a wave, related to frequency.
Yerkes Observatory
A prominent astronomical observatory known for its historical telescope.
Heat Source for Telescopes
The condition where the Earth emits heat, necessitating cooling for telescope efficiency.
Prime Focus Reflector
A telescope design where light is focused directly on the primary mirror's focal point.
Spitzer Space Telescope
A space telescope that observes infrared wavelengths to study the universe.
X-rays Don't Reach Earth
A statement about how X-rays from celestial objects cannot penetrate the Earth's atmosphere.
Adjacent Objects Resolution
The capability of an optical system to distinguish two nearby objects in the sky.
Reflects Visible Light
An optical surface or system designed to bounce back visible wavelengths of light.
Radio Telescopes
Telescopes specifically designed to observe radio wave emissions from space.
Wavelength and Telescope Size
The relationship between the wavelength of light used and the size of the main optical element.
Velocity in Wave
The speed at which a wave propagates through a medium.
Resolution Definition
The measure of the smallest detail that can be distinguished in an image.
Increased Light Collection
The advantage of larger telescopes which can gather more light for better observations.
Turbulence Effect on Telescopes
The atmospheric conditions causing twinkling in stars as seen from Earth.
Galileo Galilei
An Italian astronomer known for his contributions to the development of the telescope.
Achromatic Lens
A lens designed to limit the effects of chromatic and spherical aberration.
Weak Radio Photons
Low-energy particles of light that require sensitive instruments for detection.
Cassegrain Design
A type of telescope that uses a combination of mirrors to focus light.
Wavelength Halving
A condition where halving the wavelength can affect the outcomes of measurements.
Reflects Green Light
The property of certain materials to bounce back green wavelengths and absorb others.
Above Atmospheric Pollution
The advantage of high-altitude observatories located above most greenhouse gases.
Cassegrain Reflector
A telescope that uses a curved primary mirror and a secondary mirror to focus light.
Frequency-Wavelength Relationship
The principle that states frequency times wavelength equals the speed of light.
Violet Wavelength
The shortest wavelengths of visible light, appearing as purple in color.
Wave-Particle Duality
The concept that light and other quantum entities exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties.
Spectrometer Usage
An instrument for analyzing the properties of light by separating it into its component wavelengths.
Refractor vs Reflector
Refractors have poorer angular resolution compared to reflectors due to their design.
Energy Increase Square Law
The principle that energy output increases with the square of temperature change.
Transmits Red Light
The property of a filter that allows red wavelengths to pass while blocking others.
Visible Spectrum
The range of light visible to the human eye.
Parabolic Mirror
A reflective surface shaped like a parabola, used to focus light in telescopes.
Adaptive Optics
Technology used in telescopes to improve image quality by compensating for atmospheric turbulence.
Focal Length Importance
The distance from the lens or mirror to the focal point, crucial for image formation.
Reducing Chromatic Aberration
The purpose of certain lens designs to minimize color distortion in images.
Gamma Ray
The highest-energy form of electromagnetic radiation.
Better Angular Resolution
The improved ability of sensors to distinguish fine details in images.
Infrared Telescope on Airplane
A telescope mounted on an aircraft to observe above water vapor in the atmosphere, enhancing infrared observations.
Temperature of 6000 K
The average surface temperature of the Sun.
Visible Light
The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye.
Prevent Infrared Interference
The technique of cooling instruments to avoid background radiation effects in measurements.
Peak Energy Wavelength
The wavelength where the energy output of an object in thermal equilibrium is highest.
Amplitude Measurement
A measurement of the height of a wave, which relates to its energy.
Blackbody Radiation
The theoretical radiation emitted by an ideal blackbody in thermal equilibrium.
Single Point of Light
The appearance of two closely spaced stars merging into one due to resolution limits.
Light Collection Purpose
The goal of telescope design to gather as much light as possible for improved imaging.
Frequency in Hertz
The measure of how many cycles of light pass a point in one second.
Longer Wavelength Effects
The concept that longer wavelengths correlate to lower frequency and energy.
Chandra X-ray Observatory
A space telescope designed to observe X-rays from high-energy regions of the universe.
Photometry
The science of measuring visible light.
Yellow-Green Wavelength
A specific visible light wavelength measured at about 550 nm.
32 Times Better Resolution
A significant improvement in imaging capability achieved through advanced telescope design.
Chromatic Aberration
A common optical issue where different colors of light are focused at different points.
What is an interferometer used for in astronomy?
To improve the angular resolution of radio telescopes.
Which type of telescope has the simplest light path?
Single lens refractor.
What two quantities determine the angular size of an object?
The object's actual size and its distance from us.
What type of telescope design uses a concave primary mirror?
Newtonian reflector.
What is the temperature scale where zero is the point of no atomic motion?
Kelvin.
What occurs to the peak wavelength of a star if its temperature is increased by a factor of 2 according to Wein's Law?
It decreases by a factor of 2.
What phenomenon occurs when photons bounce off a polished surface?
Reflection.
How do very hot, young stars like those in Messier 2 primarily emit their light?
In the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
What affects the resolvable angle for a telescope?
Shorter wavelength of light or larger aperture.
How do astronomers measure the temperature of a star?
By making a blackbody curve and finding the wavelength of the peak.
What does diffraction describe in terms of light?
The tendency of light to spread around corners.
What is 'seeing' in astronomy?
A measurement of the image quality due to air stability.
Which electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere?
Infrared.
What is the resolution of a telescope?
Its ability to distinguish two adjacent objects close together in the sky.
Which electromagnetic radiation has the lowest frequency?
Radio waves.
What is the largest refracting telescope in the world?
The one at Yerkes Observatory.
What is a major advantage of CCDs over film?
They record much more light in a given exposure time.
Who was the first person to regularly use a telescope for astronomical observations?
Galileo Galilei.
What type of telescope is the Hubble Space Telescope?
Cassegrain.
What is true of a blackbody?
Its energy peaks at the wavelength determined by its temperature.
What problem does adaptive optics correct?
Turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere which creates twinkling.
What type of optics are used to avoid chromatic aberrations?
An achromatic lens.
Why are radio dishes large?
To increase their angular resolution and collect very weak radio photons.
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