Questions tagged [telescope]
Telescopes are devices that collect data (usually electromagnetic spectrum, visible or otherwise) to better resolve distant objects.
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What was the average temperature of space near the Spitzer Satellite Telescope?
The Spitzer Space Telescope, formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), is an infrared space telescope launched in 2003, to be retired in January 2020.
The temperature of space near ...
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1answer
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What is the state of the art of exosolar planet imaging in 2019?
I have seen this question from 2013 asking if it's possible to take pictures of extrasolar planets. But I am wondering if anything has changed since then. Have we taken higher quality images of other ...
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How far away can spacecraft be seen with an optical telescope?
note: For the purposes of this question "optical" means near-UV through thermal IR, let's say 0.1 to 30 microns.
In the question At what time in the Apollo 14 mission did the maneuver shown in this ...
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Technology to directly observe an exoplanets [closed]
I would like to know what number of space telescopes, ideally mass produced ones using current technology and that could be cheaply manufactured and launched en-mass via the future SpaceX BFR. How ...
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1answer
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How was the Moon's first telescope used? (Apollo 16)
From Gizmodo's There's Poop on the Moon list of things left on the moon:
This gold-plated telescope that was the first tool used to make astronomical observations from the surface of another ...
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4answers
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Was Hubble really related to spy satellites?
Around the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, I remember comments in the media that the Hubble may be related to certain espionage satellites. The Hubble was designed and built around the time that ...
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1answer
57 views
What optical design is used by the GEDI's receiving telescope and how is the secondary held in place?
GEDI is a sophisticated LIDAR instrument now on its way to the ISS. Once installed, it will use powerful laser pulses (10 mJ, 242 Hz) from several lasers to map height in 3D, collecting multiple ...
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1answer
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How did Skylab's electrographic camera work?
This answer links to history.nasa.gov's SP-404 Skylab's Astronomy and Space Sciences. In what looks like chapter 2, page 14 there is mention of Skylab's electrographic camera, shown below.
In the ...
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Why is taking a picture of the moon surface from earth possible but taking one of an artificial satellite is difficult?
After reading this question and seeing an image of ISS shot from earth, a doubt came in mind that if shooting moon from earth with high details is possible, why is it difficult to shoot artificial ...
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What's the largest aperture telescope sent beyond the Earth-Moon system?
The question and answer about telescopes sent to different planets got me wondering. There are so many solar system bodies that have been photographed by deep space spacecraft, planets, dwarf planet(s?...
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How to start with back yard space exploration? [closed]
I am completely noob to space science. Recently, I visited to my cousins and found amazing experience of observing Moon with telescope. The one that they uses is "Monocular Outdoor High Definition ...
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1answer
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Would we be able to see a Space craft transit in Lunar orbit?
If a Apollo type Moon mission happened today would we be able to see it transit in Lunar orbit? I know we can't see the Landing sites of the Apollo but could we see the Command Module and its shadow ...
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1answer
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Is there any Scientific Benefit to the Lower Albedo levels on the Darkside of the Moon?
I was reading the answers to this question:
What did the sky actually look like from the Moon?
And it got me thinking... What, if any, astronomy tasks could be performed better on the lunar far side ...
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3answers
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When will we have the technology to directly observe an exoplanet with significant clarity?
Are there currently any projects underway to develop a telescope which will have the ability to directly observe an exoplanet with any clarity?
I don't mean blurry (yet impressive) images like this ...
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2answers
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To use a gravitational lens as a telescope, does the hypothetical user have to do so from a given angle?
This question is about the use of a gravitational lens for example of a distant galaxy or sun. I’m curious to know whether the two outer masses, say galaxies or suns (when to the observers of course) ...
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1answer
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Recommended source for familiarizing oneself with the applications of spectroscopy in planetary science
I have recently entered the field of planetary science as a limited-scope project which is part of my masters' degree in chemistry.
My project is going to revolve around Titan and its complex organic ...
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2answers
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What savings allowed James Webb telescope to be lighter than Hubble?
Wikipedia states:
The telescope has an expected mass about half of Hubble Space Telescope's, but its primary mirror (a 6.5 meter diameter gold-coated beryllium reflector) will have a collecting ...
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2answers
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What is the process to produce a chemical composition spectrum of a celestial body?
I have come across this spectrum, which depicts the chemical composition of Titan's atmosphere:
Taken from here.
I would like to know how do scientists generate such spectra, starting with capturing ...
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How can I find which chemical compounds can be seen on Titan's surface?
Titan has a thick atmosphere made up of mostly molecular Nitrogen and Methane which absorbs light and blocks the surface to telescopes, save for certain "spectral windows" (the white portions in the ...
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4answers
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Could a 21 meter space telescope detect the nearest exoplanets?
For reference, Hubble's mirror is 2.4 meters wide, the upcoming James Webb's 6.5 meters, and the proposed ATLAST 8 or 16 meters. Let's assume a mirror nearly ten times Hubble's size, 21 meters, is ...
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2answers
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Does the Hubble telescope use a “simple” PID-controller for its pointing control system?
I am wondering whether the Hubble Space Telescope uses a "simple" PID controller like this:
Or is it using another type of control system that may be much more complex?
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1answer
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Has any ground-based telescope taken a picture of a geostationary broadcast satellite?
I can't find 1 image, but I've heard there are a lot of geostationary satellites. Hovering in one specific spot in the sky, rotating with the Earth's spin and tilt, rotating with Earth's orbit around ...
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How come we can see nearby galaxies but are unable to see TRAPPIST-1?
How do we have telescopes that are powerful enough to see nearby galaxies, such as Andromeda (M31), but are unable to see TRAPPIST-1 or the other exoplanets in its solar system in detail when TRAPPIST-...
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3answers
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What is the current state of affairs concerning space telescopes?
With the Hubble telescope to be decommissioned any time now, and the James Webb Space Telescope at least in 2018 and unlikely to be active while Hubble still remains, will there be a gap when we have ...
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Would a lunar telescope provide a significant improvement over terrestrial based equipment?
As I understand it, the moon makes for an ideal location for a telescope because it offers environmental factors that are unlike anything achievable on earth: A lack of atmosphere, light pollution, ...
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Why put a telescope on moon? [duplicate]
According to this report:
As a follow-on mission to India's first space X-ray observatory, ASTROSAT, ISRO is planning to set up a telescope on moon.ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar said that the ...
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Picture of equipment left on the Moon?
When people visited the Moon, they left sizeable items behind. I know that taking picture of this from Earth is incredibly hard, but: Did someone try? And what pictures do we have?
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How powerful a telescope would be needed to equal New Horizons'? [closed]
New Horizons has sent back some amazing, unexpected photos of Pluto. I'm sure there are people who would love to build a larger version of Hubble that could continue imaging Pluto at a similar ...
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1answer
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Is there a telescope on board the ISS?
I am wondering if there is a telescope in or outside the ISS that has been used for astronomical imaging? I have seen here that there is already a Celestron telescope on board but it is only used for ...
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2answers
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Why should the James Webb Space telescope stay in the unstable L2?
We all know that James Webb Space telescope is planned to be launched in 2018. It has been decided that the orbit of JWST will be elliptical around the Lagrange point L2, which has been declared as ...
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1answer
2k views
Why was the Hubble Space Telescope purged with nitrogen gas?
Wikipedia states that
The telescope had to be kept
in a clean room, powered up
and purged with nitrogen, until
a launch could be rescheduled.
Spacecraft are always kept in a clean room ...
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0answers
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What is the Dark Matter Particle Explorer telescope?
China's new mission DAMPE will launch a dark matter particle telescope to detect and study the evidence of dark matter. How does this telescope work?
What is expected from the mission?
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Why do some space telescopes require cooling (sometimes down to 3K)?
Space is already cold, so why do some space telescopes require cooling?
Ex: infra-red telescope
What kind of cryocoolers are used, and why?
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1answer
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Finding non-lit objects at light minute ranges
Let's say my hyperjumpwarpgate McGuffin drive goes bing and I find myself about half a light year away from the sun. This is right in the heart of the outer Oort Cloud. Wikipedia says that there are a ...
12
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1answer
369 views
What are the current state in plans to put a liquid telescope on the moon or in space?
The utility of using liquid metals or ionic salts to automate casting of a telescope mirror could offer a cheap way to build a massive telescope on the moon or in space.
The image above, along with ...
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Were the Apollo lunar activities observed from Earth?
I understand that all manned landings on the Moon were on the near side, so technically they could be visible from Earth.
Was it possible to observe landings and/or extravehicular activities (EVAs) ...
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1answer
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What observatory had the best optical telescope in the 1960's, based on faintest apparent magnitude it could image? [closed]
I found a table of historically largest telescopes here, so I'm guessing it's the Hale Telescope of the Palomar Observatory on Mount Wilson. However, that Wikipedia article warns that size is not ...
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1answer
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Are we using software to analyze our telescope data? [closed]
It seems like to me all our analysis of stars and planets could be automated. A computer looks through the data for anomalies and then performs additional observations for that area and then outputs a ...
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1answer
2k views
Aren't the mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope too unprotected?
I've looked at the design of the James Webb Space Telescope and I got curious about something, some years ago, it seems that the international space station was hit by micro-meteorites. I'm wondering ...
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1answer
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How is WISE continuing to work without coolant?
In October 2010, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) ran out of the coolant it needs for its IR detectors to work, so it's mission ended.
In August 2013, NASA powered up WISE again with a ...
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1answer
247 views
Why would Kepler’s pointing problems be minimized if aimed within the ecliptic?
Having read a few articles on the suggested new uses for the crippled Kepler space observatory with only two out of four functioning reaction wheels, several ideas suggest that Kepler’s pointing ...
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1answer
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Would placing an X-ray telescope on the surface of the Moon be a good idea?
Instead of placing an X-ray telescope in orbit or deep space, would building an X-ray telescope on the surface of the Moon an good idea, since it has no atmosphere?
If no, please don't forget to ...
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5answers
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of sending a telescope into deep space? [closed]
When I first heard of the Voyager missions I thought this: why not do the same, only make it a telescope? I thought it would surely see a lot of things we can't see from Earth or the inner Solar ...
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2answers
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Has any satellite proved the hypothesis that the Sun could be used as a gravitational lens?
Has any satellite proved the statement that the Sun's gravity could be used as a magnifying lens, focussing electromagnetic waves of distant galaxies or other celestial objects?
Or, is this idea, for ...
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1answer
378 views
What type of telescope should I use in order to view the surface of the moon? [closed]
I am wondering what type of telescope I could use to see the surface of the moon. I am fascinated by seeing marks of human feet.
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0answers
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Would it be possible to create a community-built array-style radio telescope? [closed]
Using off-the-shelf technology, would it be possible to create a community-built array-style radio telescope? Much like the Very Large Array or Square Kilometer Array but using home grown antennae ...
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1answer
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Can multiple space telescopes be grouped together to explore the space
On Earth one can group multiple telescopes to observe a specific region. They can be moved around and focus different areas. Also they give a higher resolution of the area they observe.
Would this be ...
