Exploring Geology
Exploring Geology
5th Edition
ISBN: 9781259929632
Author: Reynolds, Stephen J., Johnson, Julia K., Morin, Paul J.
Publisher: Mcgraw-hill Education,
Question
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Chapter 19.1, Problem 1BYL
To determine

The reason why telescopes are placed in an orbit to better observe the space.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1BYL

The telescopes are placed in an orbit in order to evade the distortion that can arise due to the Earth’s erratic atmosphere.

Explanation of Solution

The visible rays from the Sun can be distorted by the Earth’s atmosphere. Due to the different layers of the atmosphere, light does not move and is reflected and refracted several times. The atmosphere is not conductive to all the components of the electromagnetic radiation. For instance, the stratosphere prevents the ultraviolet rays.

Telescopes kept in space escape the problems due to twinkling and light pollution from artificial sources of light on the Earth. Therefore, the telescopes that are placed in the orbit do not get subjected to the light distortions from the Earth’s atmosphere.

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