Trivia: What machine do scientists use for observations of distant objects?
Answer: A telescope.
A telescope is an observational tool used to detect distant objects. Telescopes can be found at observatories generally on top of mountains or tall buildings to increase the view height and limit distortion due to the atmosphere. Telescope comes from the Greek words tellτ (ῆλε), meaning ‘far’, and skopein (σκοπεῖν) meaning ‘to look.’
An unknown scientist uses a telescope to observe a strange gas cloud. The cloud is 99 million lightyears away from Earth. It has begun moving towards the Milky Way galaxy, which will collide with local planets in Andromeda.
Telescopes are designed to prevent most of the distortions from the Earth’s atmosphere with their sophisticated optics. However, it still limits how detectable faint objects are. All telescopes have a maximum magnification depending on what they’re made out of, and seeing something this far away will be very hard without extremely powerful telescopes.
Telescope was invented by English scientist Sir Isaac Newton in 1668. He has also developed an early form of the refracting telescope, which consisted of a convex lens at either end of a tube. Still, it wasn’t prevalent since the thickness of the lens limits its magnification, resulting in poor resolution.
German-Dutch optician Hans Lippershey improved his design and added another lens in the middle, creating the first telescope that magnified objects 3 times.
Astronomers use telescopes to find new stars, planets, asteroids, and to spot more objects much farther than what the naked eye can see. NASA scientists on Earth also use telescopes during satellite missions so Earth orbiters can be seen better, which can help with things like timing engine burns. Astrologists also use telescopes to view constellations, stars, and planets for studying their movements, positions, and other data.
To do this, they need much more powerful telescopes located directly on the Earth’s surface or in space. Telescopes can produce images with magnification up to 1 million times greater than the human eye. However, it still limits how detectable faint objects are.