10 Interesting Facts about Telescopes

One of these following facts about telescopes might give you much information about this equipment. Telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation (such as visible light).  The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century, using glass lenses. They found use in terrestrial applications and astronomy. To get to know more about it, here are some other facts about telescopes you might be interested in. 

Facts about telescopes 1: Etymology

The word “telescope” was coined in 1611 by the Greek mathematician Giovanni Demisiani for one of Galileo Galilei’s instruments presented at a banquet at the Accademia dei Lincei. In the Starry Messenger, Galileo had used the term “perspicillum”.

Facts about telescopes 2: Development

Within a few decades, the reflecting telescope was invented, which used mirrors. In the 20th century many new types of telescopes were invented, including radio telescopes in the 1930s and infrared in the 1960s.

Facts about telescopes 3: History

The earliest recorded working telescopes were the refracting telescopes that appeared in the Netherlands in 1608. Their development is credited to three individuals: Hans Lippershey and Zacharias Janssen, who were who were spectacle makers in Middelburg, and Jacob Metius of Alkmaar.

Facts about telescopes 4: Types

The name “telescope” covers a wide range of instruments. Most detect electromagnetic radiation, but there are major differences in how astronomers must go about collecting light (electromagnetic radiation) in different frequency bands.

Facts about telescopes 5: Classification

Telescopes may also be classified by location: ground telescope, space telescope, or flying telescope. They may also be classified by whether they are operated by professional astronomers or amateur astronomers. A vehicle or permanent campus containing one or more telescopes or other instruments is called an observatory.

Facts about telescopes 6: Optical Telescopes

An optical telescope gathers and focuses light mainly from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum (although some work in the infrared and ultraviolet). Optical telescopes increase the angular size of distant objects as well as their distant objects as their apparent brightness. 

Facts about telescopes 7: Radio Telescopes

Radio telescopes are directional radio antennas used for radio astronomy. The dishes are sometimes constructed. The dishes are sometimes constructed of a conductive wire mesh whose openings are smaller than the wavelength being observed.

Facts about telescopes 8: Types of Mount

A telescope mount is a mechanical structure which supports a telescope. Telescope mounts are designed to support the mass of the telescope and allow for accurate pointing of the instrument.

Facts about telescopes 9: Gamma-ray

Higher energy X-ray and Gamma-ray telescopes refrain from focusing completely and use coded aperture masks: the patterns of the shadow the mask creates can be reconstructed to form an image.

Facts about telescopes 10: High-energy Particle Telescope

High-energy astronomy requires specialized telescopes to make observations since most of these particles go through most metals and glasses.
Hope you would find those telescopes facts really interesting and useful for your additional reading.

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