Download Various Types of Astronomy

Optical Astronomy
 Optical astronomy uses the traditional visible parts of
the electromagnetic spectrum (ROYGBIV/visible
wavelengths)
 Limited to night viewing under clear skies, pollution
free sky (light pollution as well as smoke, fog, clouds,
etc)
 Observatories are placed in dry, high elevation places
to minimize the pollution problem
 Hubble Space Telescope is in orbit around the Earth,
above the pollution, and eliminating the day/night
issue
Kitt Peak Observatory near Tuscon,
Arizona
Hubble Space Telescope
 The Hubble is above the atmosphere, solving many
problems of a land based telescope.
Radio Astronomy
 VLA (very large array)
 A radio telescope collects ER from the non-visible part
of the spectrum
 The VLA is located in New Mexico, far away from
sources of interference.
Green Bank Radio Telescope in
West Virginia
Aracebo Radio Telescope in Puerto
Rico (built into the mountain,
cannot be moved)
What do you need to know and
understand?
 What is optical astronomy?
 What are the limitations of optical astronomy?
 What are the advantages of optical astronomy?
 What is radio astronomy?
 What are the limitations of radio astronomy?
 What are the advantages of radio astronomy?
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
(H-R Diagram)
H R Diagram
 The H R diagram compares a stars size, temperature,
and brightness.
 ***Most stars are in the main sequence***