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Optical Astronomy

The latest articles related to Optical Astronomy

National Astronomical Observatory of China – Introduction

National Astronomy Observatory of China (NAOC, the acronym was officially claimed as standing for National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences) was founded on April 25, 2001 through the merging of four CAS observatories, three CAS observing stations and one CAS research centre. The Headquarters of the NAOC are situated in the northern suburbs of [...]

Laird A. Thompson – Introduction

Laird A. Thompson (born 6 September 1947), is a professor of astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Thompson graduated with a B.A. in both physics and astronomy from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1969. He received his Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona in 1974. He is professionally associated [...]

Reflecting telescope – Introduction

reflecting telescope (also called a reflector) is an optical telescope which uses a single or combination of curved mirrors that reflect light and form an image. The reflecting telescope was invented in the 17th century as an alternative to the refracting telescope which, at that time, was a design that suffered from severe chromatic aberration. [...]

Leuschner Observatory – Introduction

Leuschner Observatory, originally called the Students’ Observatory, is an observatory operated by the University of California, Berkeley. The observatory was built in 1886 on the Berkeley campus. For many years, it was directed by Armin Otto Leuschner, for whom the observatory was renamed in 1951. In 1965, it was relocated to its present home in [...]

Filter (optics) – Introduction

Optical Astronomy

filter, while the latter category, that of interference or dichroic filters, can be quite complex. Optical filters selectively transmits light having certain properties (often, a particular range of wavelengths, that is, range of colours of light), while blocking the remainder. They are commonly used in photography, in many optical instruments, and to colour stage lighting. [...]

Ritchey–Chrétien telescope – Commercial Instruments

Optical Astronomy

Until very recently, constructing a Ritchey–Chrétien Telescope was beyond the requirements of most amateur astronomers and beyond their means. Commercial instrument manufacturers also had little demand. Schmidt–Cassegrain and Maksutov–Cassegrain instruments satisfied market needs for good quality optics at moderate prices. However with better manufacturing technology available, this telescope design is now within budget of many [...]

Astronomical interferometer – Introduction

Optical Astronomy

astronomical interferometer is an array of telescopes or mirror segments acting together to probe structures with higher resolution by means of interferometry. Astronomical interferometers are widely used for optical astronomy, infrared astronomy, submillimetre astronomy and radio astronomy. Aperture synthesis can be used to perform high-resolution imaging using astronomical interferometers. Very Long Baseline Interferometry uses a [...]

Radio telescope – Introduction

Optical Astronomy

radio telescope is a form of directional radio antenna used in radio astronomy. The same types of antennas are also used in tracking and collecting data from satellites and space probes. In their astronomical role they differ from optical telescopes in that they operate in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum where they [...]

Aden Meinel – Introduction

Optical Astronomy

Aden B. Meinel (born November 25, 1922) is an American astronomer. He retired in 1993 as a Distinguished Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He also holds the rank of Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona Optical Sciences Center. His research interests have included upper atmospheric physics, glass technology, optical design, instrumentation and space [...]

WIYN Observatory – Introduction

Optical Astronomy

WIYN Observatory is owned and operated by the WIYN Consortium. Its telescope, a 3.5-meter instrument, is the newest and second largest telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory. Most of the capital costs of the observatory were provided by the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Indiana University, and Yale University, while the National Optical Astronomy Observatory provides [...]

National Optical Astronomy Observatory – Introduction

National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) is the United States public access observatory for ground based nighttime astronomy. The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds NOAO to provide forefront astronomical research facilities for US astronomers. However, professional astronomers from any country in the world may apply to use the telescopes operated by NOAO under the NSF’s “open [...]

National Optical Astronomy Observatory – A System of US Telescopes

At the beginning of the new millennium, the National Academy of Sciences published its report on Astronomy and Astrophysics in the coming decade. Among other high priorities, the committee responsible for the report concluded [4]: “U.S. ground-based optical and infrared facilities…should…be viewed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the astronomical community as a single [...]









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