space observatories
Heavens-watching satellite stations
Space observatories are telescopes and scientific instruments placed in orbit above Earth's atmosphere.
The atmosphere blocks or distorts many wavelengths of light—ultraviolet, X-ray, infrared—so observatories in space can detect celestial phenomena invisible from the ground.
The Hubble Space Telescope is the most famous example.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful space observatory ever built.
- optical telescopesInstruments magnifying distant objects
- spectrometersInstruments analyzing electromagnetic radiation
- photometersDevices measuring luminous intensity
- infrared imagingCapturing heat radiation visually
- interferometersInstruments measuring through wave superposition
cosmic rays · dark matter · star clusters · orbital mechanics · zero gravity · mission control · gyroscopes · light years · launch vehicles
- space scienceastronomy class, planetary science, cosmology, planets, stars
- X-ray AstronomyChandra
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