Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Textbook Question
Chapter 6, Problem 1E
What are the three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument? Describe each in one to two sentences.
Expert Solution & Answer
To determine
The three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument.
Answer to Problem 1E
The three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument are the telescopes, the wavelength sorting device and the detectors.
Explanation of Solution
The three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument are the wavelength sorting device, the telescopes and the detectors.
- The telescopes:
- The wavelength sorting device:
- The detectors:
It is an optical device used for observing distant objects so that they appear near. It consists of an arrangement of lenses or a curved mirror. It is used to collect faint light from astronomical objects and focus all the light into a magnified image.
After the telescope collects light, an instrument is used which can sort light according to its wavelength.
Detectors are electronic devices which permanently record data so that it can be analyzed later. Visible light detectors can be the human eye which can observe at observatories located far away on Earth using computers, other detectors are photographic films.
Conclusion:
Thus, the three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument are the telescopes, the wavelength sorting device and the detectors.
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Students have asked these similar questions
What are the three basic components of a modern astronomical instrument? Describe each in one to two sentences. (Select all that apply.)
a magnifier, which increases the size of the image
a motor, which allows the telescope to track sorces as they move
a detector, which senses and records the radiation
an eyepiece, where an astronomer can view the image created
a telescope, which collects radiation
a device which sorts radiation by wavelength
K
I don't understand the question. Please help. This is for my astronomy lab assignment.
Hubble’s Field of View. Large telescopes often have small fields of view. For example, the Hubble Space Telescope’s (HST’s) advanced camera has a field of view that is roughly square and about 0.06° on a side.
a. Calculate the angular area of the HST’s field of view in square degrees.
b. The angular area of the entire sky is about 41,250 square degrees. How many pictures would the HST have to take with its camera to obtain a complete picture of the entire sky?
Chapter 6 Solutions
Astronomy
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