Astronomy is a science dedicated to the study of everything that lies beyond the Earth's atmosphere. To do this, astronomers use a variety of instruments to collect and analyze information that comes from space. In this chapter, we will explore three of the main telescopes and astronomical instruments used today: the Hubble telescope, the Very Large Telescope (VLT), and the radio telescope.
1. Hubble Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is one of the best-known astronomical instruments. Launched in 1990, it orbits the Earth at an altitude of about 570 kilometers. It is named after Edwin Hubble, an astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of cosmology.
Hubble's main advantage is that, because it is above Earth's atmosphere, it can capture images of outer space with unprecedented clarity. Over its lifetime, Hubble has made a number of important discoveries, including the accelerating expansion of the universe and the existence of dust disks around young stars, which are the sites of planet formation.
Hubble is equipped with a variety of instruments that allow astronomers to study the universe at different wavelengths, from ultraviolet to near-infrared. These instruments include cameras, spectrographs, and other devices that can measure the intensity and color of light.
2. Very Large Telescope (VLT)
The Very Large Telescope is an astronomical observatory operated by the European Southern Observatory in the Atacama Desert in Chile. As the name suggests, the VLT is actually made up of four individual telescopes, each with an 8.2 meter diameter main mirror.
The VLT is one of the largest and most advanced ground-based observatories in the world. It is capable of capturing images of outer space with exceptional resolution, thanks to its privileged location and cutting-edge technology. The VLT is equipped with a series of instruments that allow astronomers to study the universe at different wavelengths, from visible to mid-infrared.
One of the main advantages of the VLT is its interferometry capability, which allows the four telescopes to work together as a single giant telescope. This allows astronomers to obtain images with even higher resolution, which is especially useful for studying small, distant astronomical objects such as exoplanets and black holes.
3. Radio telescopes
Radio telescopes are astronomical instruments that are used to detect and analyze radio waves from outer space. Unlike optical telescopes, which capture visible light, radio telescopes are capable of detecting radio waves, which have much longer wavelengths.
One of the main advantages of radio telescopes is that they can operate day and night, and in all weather conditions. Additionally, radio waves can pass through dust clouds in space, allowing astronomers to see regions of the universe that would be invisible to optical telescopes.
There are many radio telescopes around the world, but one of the most famous is the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. This radio telescope, which unfortunately collapsed in 2020, had a diameter of 305 meters and was one of the largest in the world. Another notable radio telescope is the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), located in Chile, which is a network of 66 antennas that work together to form a single radio telescope.
In conclusion, telescopes and astronomical instruments are fundamental tools for studying the universe. They allow us to explore the wonders of outer space and make discoveries that expand our understanding of the cosmos.
