Space Telescopes
The Earth’s atmosphere is what allowed the first cell of life to come into existence, and allowed this cell to evolve into basic life forms, and from basic life forms came more advanced forms, and eventually, those life forms because dinosaurs, and then mammals and after some millions of years, humans. So clearly, we all know that the Earth’s atmosphere is necessary and good. Nobody would ever claim otherwise! Except, there’s a small problem with the atmosphere. An almost miniscule problem. That problem is the way it bends light, absorbs light, radiates its own light, and in hundreds of little ways, ruin the visibility of distant stars and deep space. Scientists have, of course, long been aware of these problems, but the only real solution is to send the telescope beyond the atmosphere so it can take unaltered, unadulterated, photos of stars, planets, nebulas, and other celestial bodies. This idea was first formulated in the 1940s but didn’t really begin to have life until four decades later when the four space telescopes were sent into orbit. Of the four space telescopes, three are still in orbit, with the Hubble Space Telescope being the most famous and the one most likely to stay in orbit for the longest, since it’s been approved for a new servicing mission that will prolong its mission.
Space telescopes are invaluable tools to astronomers and physicists. The reason the Hubble is so famous is that it collects and sends back images from the visible section of the electromagnetic spectrum, but the other three space telescopes did just as much work in other areas of the spectrum.
Related Information
Astronomy Video
Many websites will stream educational and fund astronomy videos for the viewer’s convenience.
Bushnell Telescope
Bushnell telescopes offer an adventure into the universe!
