Astronomical telescope

Astronomical Telescope

The astronomical telescope is an optical instrument used to observe celestial bodies such as stars, planets, galaxies, and other astronomical objects. The telescope is a key tool in astronomy, a science dedicated to the study of celestial objects, the physics, chemistry, and evolution of such objects, and phenomena that occur outside the Earth's atmosphere.

History

The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century, by using glass lenses. They found use in both terrestrial applications and astronomy. The first recorded astronomical telescope was a refracting telescope, which was invented by Galileo Galilei in 1609.

Types of Astronomical Telescopes

There are three main types of astronomical telescopes: refracting, reflecting, and catadioptric.

Refracting Telescopes

Refracting telescopes use lenses to gather and focus light. They are the oldest type of telescope and have been around since the invention of the telescope.

Reflecting Telescopes

Reflecting telescopes use mirrors to gather and focus light. They were invented as a solution to the chromatic aberration seen in refracting telescopes.

Catadioptric Telescopes

Catadioptric telescopes use a combination of mirrors and lenses to gather and focus light. They are designed to bring the benefits of both refracting and reflecting telescopes.

See Also

• List of telescope types
• History of the telescope
• Optical telescope
• Radio telescope
• Space telescope