Famous Telescopes and Their Contributions to Astronomy.
Famous Space Telescopes & Their Contributions To Astronomy
Famous Space Telescopes & Their Contributions To Astronomy
There have been several famous space telescopes launched into orbit that have made significant contributions to space exploration. Here are a few examples.
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) -
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a large telescope that orbits Earth and observes the universe in visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared light. It was named after American astronomer Edwin Hubble, who made important contributions to the study of galaxies and the expansion of the universe. The HST was launched into space on April 24, 1990, by the Space Shuttle Discovery. It is operated by NASA in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
The telescope is roughly the size of a large school bus, weighing about 24,500 pounds (11,110 kilograms) and measuring 43.5 feet (13.2 meters) long and 14 feet (4.2 meters) wide. The HST has made many significant contributions to our understanding of the universe. One of its most famous accomplishments is its role in determining the rate of expansion of the universe, which helped to confirm the existence of dark energy.
The HST has also observed many galaxies, including some of the most distant ones known, and has revealed much about the evolution of these galaxies over time. In addition, the HST has observed many planets outside our solar system, including the first direct images of exoplanets. It has also been used to study the atmospheres of these planets and to search for signs of life. The HST has a number of instruments on board, including cameras and spectrographs, that allow it to make detailed observations of distant objects.
Its observations are highly sought after by astronomers around the world, and its data has been used in thousands of scientific papers. Over the years, the HST has undergone several servicing missions by Space Shuttle crews to upgrade and repair its instruments. The most recent servicing mission took place in 2009, and the HST is expected to continue operating until at least 2030.
Chandra X-ray Observatory -
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a telescope designed to observe X-rays from high-energy sources in the universe, such as black holes, neutron stars, and supernova remnants. The telescope is named after Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the structure and evolution of stars.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory was launched by NASA on July 23, 1999, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. It is the third of NASA's Great Observatories, after the Hubble Space Telescope and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a collaboration between NASA, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and other institutions.
The telescope is located in Earth orbit at an altitude of about 86,500 miles (139,000 kilometers). It is roughly the size of a small school bus, weighing about 12,000 pounds (5,400 kilograms) and measuring 45 feet (13.7 meters) long and 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory has made many significant discoveries in its two decades of operation. One of its most notable accomplishments was the discovery of X-ray emissions from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. It has also observed many other black holes and neutron stars, and has provided insights into the high-energy processes that occur in these objects.
In addition, the Chandra X-ray Observatory has observed many other types of celestial objects, including galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and supernova remnants. It has provided important information about the structure and evolution of these objects, as well as the distribution of dark matter in the universe.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory has several instruments on board, including cameras and spectrometers, that allow it to make detailed observations of X-ray sources. Its observations are highly sought after by astronomers around the world, and its data has been used in thousands of scientific papers.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory has undergone several servicing missions by Space Shuttle crews to upgrade and repair its instruments. The most recent servicing mission took place in 2009, and the telescope is expected to continue operating until at least the mid-2020s.
Spitzer Space Telescope -
The Spitzer Space Telescope, formerly known as the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, is a telescope designed to observe infrared light from celestial objects in the universe. It is named after American astrophysicist Lyman Spitzer, who was a pioneer in the field of space telescopes.
The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched by NASA on August 25, 2003, aboard a Delta II rocket. It is one of NASA's four Great Observatories, along with the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. The Spitzer Space Telescope is operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in collaboration with the University of Arizona and other institutions.
The telescope is located in an Earth-trailing orbit, which means it is positioned slightly behind Earth as it orbits the Sun. It is roughly the size of a small car, weighing about 1,906 pounds (864 kilograms) and measuring 13.1 feet (4 meters) long and 8.9 feet (2.7 meters) wide.
The Spitzer Space Telescope has made many significant discoveries in its nearly two decades of operation. It has observed many galaxies, including some of the most distant ones known, and has revealed much about the formation and evolution of these galaxies over time.
In addition, the Spitzer Space Telescope has observed many other types of celestial objects, including stars, protoplanetary disks, and exoplanets. It has provided important information about the properties of these objects, including their temperatures, chemical compositions, and ages.
The Spitzer Space Telescope has several instruments on board, including cameras and spectrometers, that allow it to make detailed observations of infrared sources. Its observations are highly sought after by astronomers around the world, and its data has been used in thousands of scientific papers.
The Spitzer Space Telescope was retired on January 30, 2020, after more than 16 years of operation. Despite its retirement, its legacy of scientific discoveries will continue to be studied and analyzed by astronomers for many years to come.
Kepler Space Telescope -
The Kepler Space Telescope was a NASA space observatory that was designed to search for exoplanets, which are planets that orbit stars outside of our solar system. It was named after German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler, who discovered the laws of planetary motion.
The Kepler Space Telescope was launched on March 7, 2009, aboard a Delta II rocket. It was initially designed to operate for three and a half years, but it continued to function for nine years until it was retired on October 30, 2018, due to a mechanical failure that rendered it unable to point accurately.
The telescope was located in an Earth-trailing orbit and used the transit method to detect exoplanets. The transit method involves measuring the dimming of a star's light as a planet passes in front of it. The Kepler Space Telescope was equipped with a high-precision photometer that was capable of detecting the tiny changes in brightness that occur when a planet transits its star.
During its nine-year mission, the Kepler Space Telescope discovered over 2,600 confirmed exoplanets, making it one of the most successful exoplanet-hunting missions to date. It also discovered many additional candidate exoplanets that are still awaiting confirmation.
In addition to exoplanets, the Kepler Space Telescope also made significant contributions to other areas of astrophysics, including the study of variable stars, star clusters, and supernovae.
The Kepler Space Telescope has helped to revolutionize our understanding of the universe by showing that exoplanets are much more common than previously thought. It has provided important data for astronomers studying the formation and evolution of planetary systems and has increased our understanding of the potential habitability of exoplanets.
Although the Kepler Space Telescope is no longer operational, its legacy continues to inspire new discoveries and advances in the field of exoplanet research.
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) -
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a telescope that is designed to observe the universe in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and is named after James E. Webb, who was a key figure in the development of NASA during the 1960s.
The JWST is being developed as a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). It is currently scheduled to launch in 2021, after a series of delays and setbacks.
The telescope has a large, segmented primary mirror that is 21.3 feet (6.5 meters) in diameter. It will be positioned at the second Lagrange point (L2), which is located about one million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth. This position will allow the telescope to remain in a stable orbit, free from the interference of Earth's atmosphere and heat.
The JWST is designed to observe the early universe, including the formation of the first galaxies, stars, and black holes. It will also study the atmospheres of exoplanets and the processes that shape the formation of stars and planetary systems. It has several instruments on board, including a near-infrared camera, a near-infrared spectrograph, and a mid-infrared instrument. These instruments will enable the JWST to observe the universe with much greater sensitivity and resolution than was possible with previous telescopes.
One of the most unique features of the JWST is its sunshield, which is made up of five layers of a special material that will protect the telescope's sensitive instruments from the heat of the Sun. The sunshield is roughly the size of a tennis court and is designed to unfold in space after launch.
The JWST has been in development for over 20 years and has faced a series of delays and setbacks. However, if it is successful, it has the potential to transform our understanding of the universe and provide new insights into some of the most fundamental questions in astrophysics.
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment