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Telescopes

 

A graphic representing the science themes of the James Webb Space Telescope

 

Telescopes have played a vital role in expanding our understanding of the universe. They have allowed us to observe and study celestial objects that are too distant or too faint to be seen with the naked eye. Over the years, telescopes have become more powerful and sophisticated, enabling us to uncover new mysteries of the universe. In this article, we will discuss some of the current and future telescopes that are set to revolutionize astronomy.

Types of telescopes

Optical telescopes

Radio telescopes

X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes

Image: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope from Greenbelt, MD, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 


 

NASA's Great Observatories

To grasp the wonders of the cosmos, and understand its infinite variety and splendor, we must collect and analyze radiation emitted by phenomena throughout the entire electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Towards that end, NASA proposed the concept of Great Observatories, a series of four space-borne observatories designed to conduct astronomical studies over many different wavelengths (visible, gamma rays, X-rays, and infrared). An important aspect of the Great Observatory program was to overlap the operations phases of the missions to enable astronomers to make contemporaneous observations of an object at different spectral wavelengths.

For more information about NASA's Great Observatories, visit these sites:

James Webb Space Telescope

Hubble Space Telescope

Chandra X-ray Observatory

 


 

Telescope Articles, Videos, and Web Sites

 

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FutureForAll.org aims to increase public awareness of rapidly advancing technologies, and to encourage students to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM).