Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Textbook Question
Chapter 6, Problem 1E
What are the three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument? Describe each in one to two sentences.
Expert Solution & Answer
To determine
The three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument.
Answer to Problem 1E
The three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument are the telescopes, the wavelength sorting device and the detectors.
Explanation of Solution
The three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument are the wavelength sorting device, the telescopes and the detectors.
- The telescopes:
- The wavelength sorting device:
- The detectors:
It is an optical device used for observing distant objects so that they appear near. It consists of an arrangement of lenses or a curved mirror. It is used to collect faint light from astronomical objects and focus all the light into a magnified image.
After the telescope collects light, an instrument is used which can sort light according to its wavelength.
Detectors are electronic devices which permanently record data so that it can be analyzed later. Visible light detectors can be the human eye which can observe at observatories located far away on Earth using computers, other detectors are photographic films.
Conclusion:
Thus, the three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument are the telescopes, the wavelength sorting device and the detectors.
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Students have asked these similar questions
Hubble’s Field of View. Large telescopes often have small fields of view. For example, the Hubble Space Telescope’s (HST’s) advanced camera has a field of view that is roughly square and about 0.06° on a side.
a. Calculate the angular area of the HST’s field of view in square degrees.
b. The angular area of the entire sky is about 41,250 square degrees. How many pictures would the HST have to take with its camera to obtain a complete picture of the entire sky?
“20/20 vision” is an arbitrary’ measure of vision—meaning that you can read what an average person can read at a distance of 20 feet in daylight. What is this distance in meters?
which types of earth based telescopes can successfully observe celestial objects ? ( select all that apply)
a. gamma ray telescope b. x ray telescope c.UV telescope d. visible light telescope e.infrared telescope f. radio telescope
Chapter 6 Solutions
Astronomy
Ch. 6 - What are the three basic components of a modern...Ch. 6 - Name the two spectral windows through which...Ch. 6 - List the largest-aperture single telescope...Ch. 6 - When astronomers discuss the apertures of their...Ch. 6 - The Hooker telescope at Palomar Observatory has a...Ch. 6 - What is meant by “reflecting” and “refracting”...Ch. 6 - Why are the largest visible-light telescopes in...Ch. 6 - Compare the eye, photographic film, and CCDs as...Ch. 6 - What is a charge-coupled device (CCD), and how is...Ch. 6 - Why is it difficult to observe at infrared...
Ch. 6 - Radio and radar observations are often made with...Ch. 6 - Look back at Figure 6.18 of Cygnus A and read its...Ch. 6 - Why do astronomers place telescopes in Earth’s...Ch. 6 - What was the problem with the Hubble Space...Ch. 6 - Describe the techniques radio astronomers use to...Ch. 6 - What kind of visible-light and infrared telescopes...Ch. 6 - Describe one visible-light or infrared telescope...Ch. 6 - What happens to the image produced by a lens if...Ch. 6 - What would be the properties of an ideal...Ch. 6 - Many decades ago, the astronomers on the staff of...Ch. 6 - The largest observatory complex in the world is on...Ch. 6 - Suppose you are looking for sites for a...Ch. 6 - Radio astronomy involves wavelengths much longer...Ch. 6 - The dean of a university located near the ocean...Ch. 6 - What is the area, in square meters, of a 10-m...Ch. 6 - Approximately 9000 stars are visible to the naked...Ch. 6 - Theoretically (that is, if seeing were not an...Ch. 6 - In broad daylight, the size of your pupil is...Ch. 6 - How much more light can be gathered by a telescope...Ch. 6 - How much more light can the Keck telescope (with...Ch. 6 - People are often bothered when they discover that...Ch. 6 - Telescopes can now be operated remotely from a...Ch. 6 - The HST cost about $1.7 billion for construction...Ch. 6 - How much more light can the James Webb Space...Ch. 6 - The Palomar telescope’s 5-m mirror weighs 14.5...
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