What can radio telescopes observe that optical telescopes Cannot?
Many astronomical objects are not only observable in visible light but also emit radiation at radio wavelengths. Besides observing energetic objects such as pulsars and quasars, radio telescopes are able to “image” most astronomical objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and even radio emissions from planets.
How do radio telescopes different from optical telescopes?
Radio telescopes are much larger than optical telescopes because radio wavelengths are much longer than optical wavelengths. The longer wavelengths means that the radio waves have lower energy than optical light waves. In order to collect enough radio photons to detect a signal, the radio dishes must be very large.
What are some advantages of a radio telescope over an optical telescope?
Radio telescopes detect radio waves coming from space. Although they are usually very large and expensive, these telescopes have an advantage over optical telescopes. They can be used in bad weather because the radio waves are not blocked by clouds as they pass through the atmosphere.
What is one advantage of radio telescopes over optical telescopes that is not true?
The optical telescopes collect light waves and amplify them so that small, faint objects are ‘visible’ to us. Similarly, the radio telescopes can only collect/record ‘radio’ waves emitted by objects and amplify them so that these signals can be converted to useful data. Astronomers convert these signals into images.
What is an advantage of using a radio telescope instead of an optical telescope quizlet?
Radio telescopes have much better resolution than optical telescopes. Radio telescopes do not need a clear sky and are not dependent on weather. Radio telescopes do not need a clear sky and are not dependent on weather.
What can radio telescopes do that optical telescopes Cannot quizlet?
What can radio telescopes do that optical telescopes cannot? Find the location of cool hydrogen gas, see through dust clouds, detect dark molecular clouds, observe during the day.
What are the limitations of telescopes?
Disadvantages:
- Very high initial cost relative to reflector.
- A certain amount of secondary spectrum (chromatic aberration) unavoidable (reflector completely free of this) The colours cannot focus at one point.
- Long focal ratios can mean that the instrument is cumbersome.