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For many years the Hubble Space Telescope has collected breathtaking images of the cosmos with remarkable clarity. Now, ground based telescopes are fighting back. They are combining the precision of several instruments and correcting for atmospheric shimmer. This program presents and explains the designs, uses, and outputs of different types of telescopes.
(Source: DCMP)
Today's telescopes study the sky across the electromagnetic spectrum. Each part of the spectrum tells scientists different things about the universe, giving them more pieces of the cosmic jigsaw puzzle. The most powerful telescopes on the ground and in space have joined forces over the last decade in a unique observing campaign, known as the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey, or GOODS, which reaches across the spectrum and deep back into cosmic time.
The engineers at NASA are studying two new technologies to help image distant Earth-like planets. Coronagraphs are tiny instruments fitted inside telescopes to block light and help scientists study clues as to whether life is present on a planet. Starshades also block light and produce clearer photographs of distant planets. Both of these technologies are used with telescopes and provide scientists with enhanced photographs of space. Part of the “Crazy Engineering” series.
Astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History are searching through early photographs of the night sky in an effort to digitize the collection of photographs. Also in this episode, they discuss the advancement of astronomical instrumentation through the ages. Part of the "Shelf Life" series.
Today's optoelectronic engineers are developing extremely thin glass that is both durable and scratch-resistant. Telecommunications systems require speed and accuracy, and glass is proving to be important in developing semiconductors, optical fibers, and multiplexing. Precisely engineered glass is also used in terrestrial and extra-terrestrial telescopes.
How far is a star or a galaxy? Scaling and measuring the cosmos is a complex problem. Scientists are integrating mathematical applications and scientific technology to create measurement standards. Distances are so vast they are described in light years, and nearby stars are measured by trigonometry. Farther out, astronomers use standard candle measurement for deep space exploration.
Satellite footage, telescopic photos, and animation are used to teach students about the many aspects of the solar system. Viewers are introduced to ancient astronomers, telescopes, observatories, and space exploration. Students will discover facts about planets, orbits, gravity, revolution, and rotation. The program also features discussions of the sun, comets, asteroids, and meteors. Part of the Real World Science series.
Ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians, the Chinese and the Greeks studied the stars without the benefit of telescopes and yet identified patterns of stars that are still used today. These early scientists collected the first data in the science of astronomy. This program provides students with a summary of the history of astronomy and highlights many important astronomers.
At first glance, the bone-dry landscape of the Atacama Desert in Chile might seem inhospitable. But, it’s prime real estate for astronomers. This desert is now home to the largest ground-based radio telescope in the world called the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array or “ALMA for short. And, it’s allowing astronomers to see the universe like never before. Part of the National Science Foundation Series "Science Nation."
The Atacama large Millimeter/Sub-millimeter Array, or ALMA, is a vast array of radio telescopes and the most powerful observatory of its kind. ALMA is stationed in the Atacama Desert of Chile which is one of the world’s best sites for observational astronomy because of the high altitude, nearly non-existent cloud cover, dry air and lack of light pollution and radio interference due to the small populations. ALMA peers into previously hidden regions of space with unprecedented sharpness and sensitivity.
Using crisp images and lifelike animations, this program introduces students to the intriguing realm of stars and galaxies. The main characteristics of galaxies and stars are discussed. Special attention is given to the features of stars, including size, temperature, and brightness. The life cycle of a star is also highlighted, as are the tools used by astronomers to study space. Additional concepts and terminology illustrated in the video include: universe, telescope, satellites, constellations, star color, spectrum, gas, light-year, and black hole.
Sunspots have fascinated sky gazers through the ages. Now state-of-the art telescopes combined with the muscle of a supercomputer called “Bluefire” are allowing scientists to accurately model these mysterious structures, and unlock their secrets. Michael Knoelker and Matthias Rempel are solar scientists working at the High Altitude Observatory at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, known as NCAR, in Boulder, Colorado. With support from the National Science Foundation, their study of sunspots is critical to the understanding of how stars, like the sun, produce magnetic fields which is still one of the big unanswered questions in stellar astrophysics.
The speed of light is constant in a vacuum, but what about in the everyday world? Examines the behavior of light as it passes through physical substances in a collection of 23 computer-animated video shorts. Outlines Ptolemy's Law of Refraction and the concept of angle of incidence by examining light's motion through air, water, glass, and other media. Explores Snell's Law by highlighting the importance of a refractive index along with displacement, deviation, dispersion, and the role of refraction in fiber optics. Studies lens types including biconvex, convex meniscus, plano-convex, and concave models, in addition to telescopes, magnifying glasses, and the human eye.
Visible light, which can be seen with human eyes, comprises a small sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum. The rest of the spectrum, from short wavelength gamma rays to long-wavelength radio waves, requires special instruments to detect. ALMA uses an array of radio telescopes to detect and study radio waves from space. ALMA is an advanced tool for studying very old stars and galaxies. These objects now are seen at great cosmic distances, with most of their light stretched out to millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths by the expansion of the universe. ALMA provides the unprecedented ability to study the processes of star and planet formation.
