A telescope is an optical instrument that gathers and focuses light into a camera, CCD, spectrograph, or an astronomer's eye. Two major types of telescopes dominate astronomy: reflectors and refractors. Many of the world's largest telescopes are housed at observatories: The entire complex of buildings, telescopes, equipment, and staff involving scientific astronomical observations. Small observatories might consist of just one telescope situated in a dome, one instrument and computer, and one observer. McDonald Observatory is an example of a major observatory, and consists of five major telescope in five different domes, numerous instruments, computers, living quarters, outbuildings, astronomers, and engineers.
Resources
Radio Programs
Recalibrating
Recalibrating a space telescope
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
File Cabinet
Leafing through a starry filing cabinet
Monday, May 6, 2013
ALMA
Cranking up a giant new telescope
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Space Watch II
Searching for cosmic bullets
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
More Capella
Seeing a star in a different light
Friday, December 7, 2012
VERITAS
Sparks from extreme cosmic environments
Friday, November 9, 2012
Dark Portrait
Snapping a picture of the unseeable
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Going Solar
Building an energy telescope
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Making Mirrors
Making the hearts of giant telescopes
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Moon and Taurus
Snapping the universe -- from the Moon
Monday, April 23, 2012
Hottest Planet
A world that’s hotter than Texas
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
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