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Space telescopes are artificial satellites or space probes that is used for the observation of planets and other celestial bodies.
In the cover image you can see XMM-Newton space observatory is the flagship of European X-ray Astronomy Credit: web “esa.int”.
The advantage of space telescopes
The advantage of having a space observatory beyond the atmosphere is mainly due to the fact that in this way the effects of visual distortion produced by the atmosphere are eliminated.
Furthermore, electromagnetic radiation is highly absorbed by the atmosphere at certain wavelengths, especially in the infrared; therefore, the quality of the images obtained with ground-based telescopes decreases.
This page provides a brief overview of 12 observatories.
- WEBB – HUBBLE – SPITZER – CHANDRA – XMM NEWTON
- SOHO – COBE – WMAP
- HERSCHEL – PLANCK – KEPLER – FERMI.
It is certain that within a few years the Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Russian telescopes will have to be added.
Where is better to install telescopes?
The Earth’s atmosphere inevitably absorbs part of the radiation reaching the Earth’s surface from space.
Therefore, although places with exceptional visibility conditions are chosen, such as Hawaii, the Atacama desert in Chile; the Canary Islands and the Sierra in Baja California, the images are not received in optimal conditions.
Spotting scopes are also affected by meteorological factors and by light pollution caused by large urban settlements. Hence the difficulty in finding suitable sites to install telescopes.
Therefore, the ideal site for astronomical observation is located outside the Earth’s atmosphere. According to some astronomers, one of the ideal sites would be on the far side of the Moon.
The most energetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, X-rays and gamma rays can only be observed with satellite telescopes or in balloons.
With the beginning of the space age, astronomical satellites, which orbit the Earth at a distance of about 1,000 km, opened the windows of the entire electromagnetic spectrum for astronomers to observe the Universe, especially by observing X-rays and some infrared rays.
The exploration of space using astronomical satellites offers new perspectives of fundamental importance.
NASA Astronomy Images presented in week 52 of 2009 a video of 3:10 minutes with only music and images of the sky obtained with orbital telescopes.
Orbital telescopes will allow astronomical observation more than a billion light years from the Solar System, because it increases the observable depth of the Universe 350 times, compared to what was had at the end of the 20th century.
This potentiality will increase notably when some spacecraft go further into the Milky Way.
Webb telescope
The James Webb Observatory will launch on December 24, 2021.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space observatory scheduled to be launched in 2021 to study the sky in infrared frequency.
JWST has been a joint project of NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency.
The Webb Space Telescope will be in a solar orbit, 1.5 billion kilometers from Earth.
After a long wait, finally, on Christmas 2021, it was time for the launch of this modern telescope, which has cost more than 10 billion dollars.
The telescope will be mounted on a European Space Agency Ariane 5 rocket from the Arianespace launch complex, located near Kourou, French Guiana.
The joint team of NASA, the European and Canadian space agency have already authorized the execution of the launch scheduled to take off on Christmas Eve, at 12:20 GMT on December 24, 2021. NASA will broadcast the launch live through from NASA TV.
Hubble space telescope
Hubble is perhaps the orbital observatory best known to public opinion.
Named in honor of the North American astronomer Edwin Hubble, it is a robotic telescope installed at the outer edges of the atmosphere, in a circular orbit around the Earth, 593 km above sea level.
It was put into orbit on April 24, 1990 as a joint project of NASA and ESA.
Spitzer telescope
The Spitzer Observatory is dedicated to the capture of infrared waves.
The Spitzer Space Telescope, 85 cm in diameter, was launched in August 2003 and is part of NASA’s Large Observatories Program.
It is a key piece in the program for the “astronomical search for the origins of the Universe.” Spectacular photographs have been captured with it, such as some of the RCW49 Nebula.
XMM-Newton Space telescope
The XMM-Newton Observatory (X-ray Multi-mirror Mission) is an X-ray space observatory of ESA, the European Space Agency.
Initially, the mission was to last two years. Due to its good operation, it was decided to extend it for another eight years and it is expected that the XMM will be able to operate until 2010.
XMM was the first observatory to detect the influence of the gravitational field of a neutron star.
Chandra telescope
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is an artificial satellite launched by NASA on July 23, 1999, 23 years after the initial proposal.
It was named after the British-based Indian physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, one of the founders of astrophysics.
The Chandra is expected to be operational until 2013.
It is the third of NASA’s Great Space Observatories.
It followed the Hubble Space Telescope and the Compton (gamma ray, launched in 1991), but is the former fully equipped for X-ray capture.
SOHO telescope
The SOHO Observatory is dedicated exclusively to observing the Sun. It is a joint project of NASA and ESA (European Space Agency).
It is a remote-controlled spacecraft designed to constantly observe the Sun (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory).
It was built in Europe by an industrial team headed by MATRA. The instruments that the ship carries were designed by scientists from the United States and Europe.
COBE space telescopes
The COBE Observatory dedicated to studying background radiation.
It is a remote-controlled spacecraft designed to constantly observe the Sun (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory).
It was built in Europe by an industrial team headed by MATRA. The instruments that the ship carries were designed by scientists from the United States and Europe.
WMAP space telescopes
The WMAP probe succeeded COBE in the study of background radiation.
The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) named after David Wilkinson, a member of the mission’s science team and a pioneer in the study of background radiation.
WMAP is a probe launched by NASA and its mission is to study the sky and measure the temperature differences observed in the microwave background radiation, a remnant of the Big Bang.
Kepler telescope
On Friday March 6, 2009, NASA launched from Cape Canaveral the “Kepler” telescope mounted on a Delta II rocket that took the telescope into another orbit, not around the earth, but around the Sun.
The Kepler mission will last three and a half years, and its objective is to search for planets similar to Earth.
During this time, the telescope will observe about 100,000 stars simultaneously and every 30 minutes, in the area of the constellations of Swan and Lyra, both in the Milky Way, in an area where there are stars of composition and age very similar to those of the Sun.
Herschel telescope
On May 14, 2009, the European Space Agency ESA put into orbit with a single Ariane 5 rocket, launched from the Kurou space base, in French Guiana, two space telescopes: the Herschel and the Planck.
Herschel is the largest telescope ever sent into space, with a 3.5 meter diameter mirror.
In addition, Herschel is equipped with an original and modern infrared vision system that according to ESA will capture images with a resolution never before achieved and will allow it to penetrate the vision of the universe through frozen dust clouds.
Planck telescope
On May 14, 2009, the European Space Agency ESA put into orbit with a single Ariane 5 rocket, launched from the Kurou space base, in French Guiana, two space telescopes: the Herschel and the Planck.
The mission of the Planck telescope is to scrutinize the early period of the universe, in the first years after the Big Bang, by detecting infrared radiation.
The Planck will be able to map in one day what would have taken its predecessors 400 years.
The mission of the Planck telescope is to scrutinize the early period of the universe, in the first years after the Big Bang, by detecting infrared radiation.
The Planck will be able to map in one day what would have taken its predecessors 400 years.
Fermi telescope
On June 11, 2008, NASA placed the Fermi telescope into a low circular orbit (550 km high), named after the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi (1901 – 1954).
Fermi was a pioneer in the field of physics of high energies; Enrico Fermi’s theories provide the foundation for understanding the new discoveries of this telescope that bears his name.
The Fermi telescope aims to study the sources of gamma rays in the universe and is funded by NASA and other research agencies in the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Sweden.
NASA Astronomy Images presented in week 52 of 2009. It is a 3 minute video with only music and images of the sky obtained with orbital telescopes. Click here to see the video.
Gallery of the best images provided by the Spitzer Space Telescope Project Department of Education, NASA and JPL. Click here to access the web.
