The disadvantages are mainly to do with the hassle of operating in space. It’s much more expensive , so you can’t have such a large telescope. If things go wrong it’s much harder to repair them. You can’t update the instruments so often so they quickly become out of date.
What is the biggest disadvantage of putting a telescope in space?
Disadvantages. Space telescopes are much more expensive to build than ground-based telescopes. Due to their location, space telescopes are also extremely difficult to maintain . The Hubble Space Telescope was serviced by the Space Shuttle, but most space telescopes cannot be serviced at all.
What are 3 disadvantages of a reflecting telescope?
Reflecting telescopes have a few disadvantages as well. Because they are normally open, the mirrors have to be cleaned. Also, unless the mirrors and other optics are kept at the same temperature as the outside air, there will be air currents inside the telescope that will cause images to be fuzzy .
What is a major disadvantage of a refracting telescope?
Disadvantages. All refractors suffer from an effect called chromatic aberration (“color deviation or distortion”) that produces a rainbow of colors around the image. ... This is why the early refracting telescopes were made very long.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of putting a telescope in space?
In space, however, telescopes are able to geta clearer shot of everything from exploding stars to other galaxies . Another disadvantage for ground-basedtelescopes is that the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs much of the infrared andultraviolet light that passes through it. Space telescopes can detect thesewaves.
Do astronomers use reflecting or refracting telescopes?
A refractor uses lenses within a tube to refract (bend) light. It’s the type of long telescope which you might imagine old-time astronomers, like Galileo, using. Reflectors, on the other hand, use mirrors instead of lenses to reflect light. Most modern observatories use reflectors because their telescopes are so huge.
How big was the mirror in Herschel’s telescope?
The Great 40-Foot
Herschel’s most ambitious telescope-making project – indeed, the most ambitious in history up to that time – was the construction of his great “40-Foot” reflector with its 48-inch (or 4-foot) diameter mirror (resulting in a focal ratio of f/10).
What are the advantages of putting telescopes in space?
The main reason we put telescopes into space is to get around the Earth’s atmosphere so that we can get a clearer view of the planets, stars, and galaxies that we are studying. Our atmosphere acts like a protective blanket letting only some light through while blocking others.
What is the biggest telescope in space?
31. The next-generation James Webb Space Telescope will be the largest and most powerful space science observatory, according to NASA. With its infrared eyes, it will be able to study some of the oldest and most distant stars in the universe.
Why do astronomers want telescopes in space?
Telescopes are placed into orbit around the Earth or are sent farther out into space to get a clearer view of the Universe . There are many different types of space telescopes. Some are used to study a special object like the Sun. Others are used to study the different types of light given off by objects in space.
What are 5 disadvantages of a refracting telescope?
- Very high initial cost relative to reflector.
- A certain amount of secondary spectrum (chromatic aberration) unavoidable (reflector completely free of this) The colours cannot focus at one point.
- Long focal ratios can mean that the instrument is cumbersome.
What are 2 problems with refracting telescopes?
The two problems with refracting telescopes are a chromatic aberration and spherical aberration .
What are the pros and cons of a refracting telescope?
| Pros Cons | Impressive contrast and sharpness Light and transportable Closed tube = protection against humidity and dust Maintenance and cleaning almost nonexistent Small diameter = less light collected Chromatic aberrations Higher price |
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Why is a telescope in space better than one on Earth?
Space telescopes have the advantage of being above the blurring effects of the Earth’s atmosphere . In addition, there are many wavelengths from the electromagnetic spectrum that do not reach Earth because they are absorbed or reflected by the Earth’s atmosphere.
What can telescopes in space see that we Cannot spot on Earth?
Space-Based Telescopes
They’re also able to detect frequencies and wavelengths across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Ground-based telescopes can’t do the same, because the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs a lot of the infrared and ultraviolet light that passes through it.
What is the most important factor to consider when purchasing a telescope?
The most important aspect of any telescope is its aperture , the diameter of its main optical component, which can be either a lens or a mirror. A scope’s aperture determines both its light-gathering ability (how bright the image appears) and its resolving power (how sharp the image appears).
