Exploring the Universe Flashcards
Why do space telescopes have a clearer than those on earth?
It is above the atmosphere.
Light waves from space are not reflected of refracted by clouds/dust/movements of air in the atmosphere or pollution.
Wavelengths of the radiation we are trying to observe aren’t absorbed by the earths atmosphere.
Why does light pollution reduce the quality of images that we are trying to get from space?
Light pollution makes it hard to see dim objects.
How can you avoid the problems of the earths atmosphere when trying to get images?
Put telescopes into space.
What was the first space telescope called?
The Hubble space telescope launched by NASA in 1990
What are different telescopes designed to detect?
Different types of electromagnetic waves
What type of wave was the earliest telescopes only designed to detect?
Visible light waves.
Why weren’t the earliest telescopes very good at observing objects?
The earliest telescopes could only detect visible light, and many objects in the universe aren’t detectable using visible light - so different types of em waves were needed to observe them.
What have radio telescopes allowed us to see?
The Cygnus A, (a nearby galaxy) in much more detail than what we could when using optical light telescopes.
The discovery of cosmic background radiation.
What do X-ray telescopes allow us to see?
High temperature events in space, eg solar flares or exploding stars which can’t be seen using UV or visible light.
What has the Hubble space telescope allowed scientists to find?
Galaxies in all different stages of their life which has helped scientist to understand how galaxies are formed and evolved.
How has photography helped scientists in terms of exploring the universe?
The amount of data that can be gathered has increased.
Also allow us to see objects that are too dim to see.
How do computers help scientists to explore the universe?
Create clearer and sharper images as well as storing then so that they can be analysed easier and quicker and to look for new objects.
Why are spectrometers sometimes attached to telescopes?
To analyse the different wavelengths of light given off by stars.
What is the advantage if using bigger telescopes?
Give a better resolution: more detail and can gather more light so can see things that were otherwise too faint to see. Improved magnification to look further into space.
