Astronomy "Tools of Astronomy"
Refracting
The bending of light.
Refracting Telescope
A telescope that uses convex lenses to gather and focus light.
Reflecting Telescope
A telescope that uses a curved mirror to collect and focus light.
Focus
The maximum clarity or distinctness of an image made by an optical system.
Telescope
A device built to observe distant objects by making them appear closer.
The Hubble Telescope
A reflecting telescope that orbits above Earth’s atmospere.
Radio Telescope
An instrument that collects and records radio waves traveling through space and can be used day or night under most weather conditions.
Spectroscope
An instrument that can split light into different wavelengths. Is used to find the composition, temperatures, and speed of distant stars.
Continuous Spectrum
The unbroken band of colors showing the types of light.
Bright-Line Spectrum
The unevenly spaced series of colored wavelengths that show the elements present.
Absorption Spectrum
A continuous spectrum with dark lines where light waves are absorbed in order to determine a planets atmospheric composition.
X-Ray
A form of energy that travels in waves. These waves can travel through solid objects in order to show what lies beneath.
Infrared Light
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than radio waves.
Doppler Effect
The apparent change in frequency of electromagnetic or sound waves caused by the relative motions of the source and the observer.
Red-Shift
The change in the wavelength of light due to an object moving away from you.
Blue-Shift
When motion causes a shift in light wavelength due to a object moving closer to you.