3.7 Main Telescopes and Astronomical Instruments: Ultraviolet Telescopes

Astronomy is a science dedicated to the study of the universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere. To do this, a series of instruments are used that allow observation and collection of data about celestial bodies. Among these instruments, telescopes are the best known and most used. They allow the observation of planets, stars, galaxies and other distant celestial bodies. In this section, we will focus mainly on ultraviolet telescopes.

Ultraviolet Telescopes

Ultraviolet telescopes are designed to observe ultraviolet (UV) radiation from space. UV radiation is a form of light that is invisible to the human eye. It has wavelengths shorter than visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is produced by extremely energetic processes in the universe, such as nuclear fusion in stars.

Earth's atmosphere absorbs most of the UV radiation from space, so ultraviolet telescopes must be placed in space to observe it. These telescopes are equipped with special mirrors that reflect UV radiation and focus it onto a detector, which then records the image.

Ultraviolet telescopes have been fundamental to our understanding of the universe. They have been used to observe young, hot stars, which emit large amounts of UV radiation. In addition, they have also been used to study the hot, energetic regions around black holes and other X-ray sources.

Examples of Ultraviolet Telescopes

There are several ultraviolet telescopes that have been launched into space. Some of the most notable include:

The International Ultraviolet Astronomical Observatory (IUE)

Launched in 1978, IUE was the first ultraviolet telescope to be placed in space. It observed the universe in ultraviolet wavelengths for more than 18 years until it was decommissioned in 1996. During that time, IUE made important observations of comets, stars, galaxies and quasars.

The Hubble Space Telescope

Although the Hubble Space Telescope is best known for its observations in visible light, it also has the ability to observe in ultraviolet. Hubble has been used to make detailed ultraviolet observations of stars, nebulae and galaxies. These observations have helped astronomers better understand the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies.

The Extreme Ultraviolet and Gamma Ray Observatory (EUVE)

Launched in 1992, EUVE was designed to observe the universe in gamma rays and extreme ultraviolet. He has made important observations of neutron stars, black holes, and other energetic celestial objects.

Ultraviolet telescopes are a valuable tool in modern astronomy. They allow astronomers to observe energetic processes in the universe that cannot be seen with optical telescopes. Through their observations, astronomers have gained a better understanding of the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole.