Telescopes and Other Tools

The ways in which astronomers observe the sky have not changed much over the years in principle, but technology has advanced these methods in ways that early astronomers may not have dreamed. The basic types of refractive and reflective telescopes have been around for more than 400 years, yet the technology behind them remains a staple tool in astronomy.

Technology has enabled astronomers to view even the invisible by detecting a range of waves along the electromagnetic spectrum. Astronomers also use a spectrograph to separate the visible white light into the various colored wavelengths to learn the composition, temperature, and density of stars. Observatories and planetariums are centers of research and discovery where people can view and study the movement and placement of space objects. Ground-based telescopes provide a wide range of data; however, space telescopes overcome limitations of telescopes on Earth and have taught scientists a great deal about the origins and evolution of the universe. In this topic, you will explore many of the different tools that astronomers use to study the universe.

Essential Questions

• What are the tools of astronomers?
• How are these tools used in the study of astronomy?