Radio Telescopes
Optical telescopes operate on the visible spectrum of the electromagnetic field, but radio telescopes differ in that they operate with the radio frequencies on the electromagnetic fields. That is, frequencies we cannot detect with the human eye. Radio telescopes collect data from satellites and space probes and track their orbits. If you want to see a radio telescope in person, you are not going to find one near your home. In fact, you won’t find one near any city or major population center. That’s because there is electromagnetic interference from many of today’s modern conveniences. Also, radio telescopes are really, really large. As a result, they need to be placed in obscure areas, away from interference. They look like giant satellite dishes, actually, with a probe that sticks up out of the dish. Of course, not all radio telescopes are going to look the same. There is a huge spectrum of radio wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum, and depending on what radio wavelengths a scientist wants to study, that’s going to dictate the shape, style, and size of the telescope. It might also dictate the placement, as well as the additional hardware and software associated with it.
Radio telescopes don’t just receive radio signals from satellites and the like. Stars, quasars, pulsars, galaxies, nebulas, and even planets, do not just emit visible light. They also emit radio waves. So even though these types of telescopes don’t detect and send images, they do provide a great deal of information to scientists about our universe.
Related Information
Astronomy Star Charts
Radio telescopes are located far from busy locations in an attempt to avoid interference. They look similar to satellites, using the same “dish” technology.
Astronomy Video
An astronomy video can be found through many different places, including museums and book stores.
