Radio telescopes
A radio telescope is a specialized antenna and radio receiver that detects radio waves from distant objects in space. Unlike optical telescopes that see visible light, radio telescopes can work day and night. They are the main tool used in radio astronomy, which studies the radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because radio waves from space are extremely weak, radio telescopes need very large antennas to collect enough signal and extremely sensitive equipment. Most look like giant parabolic dishes. Radio telescopes matter because they reveal invisible objects and phenomena that optical telescopes cannot see. Scientists often link multiple radio telescopes together electronically to create more detailed images.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: “A radio telescope is a specialized antenna and radio receiver used to detect radio waves from astronomical radio sources in the sky.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “Unlike optical telescopes, radio telescopes can be used in the daytime as well as at night.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “Since astronomical radio sources such as planets, stars, nebulas and galaxies are very far away, the radio waves coming from them are extremely weak, so radio telescopes require very large antennas to collect enough radio energy to study them, and extremely sensitive receiving equipment.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “They may be used individually or linked together electronically in an array.”