Radio telescopes are generally much larger than optical telescopes for two reasons: First, the amount of radio radiation reaching Earth from space is tiny compared with optical wavelengths, so a large collecting area is essential. Second, the long wavelengths of radio waves mean that diffraction severely limits the resolution unless large instruments are used.
Yes, that's correct. The longer wavelengths of radio waves mean that radio telescopes have poorer angular resolution compared to optical telescopes. This is because resolving power is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves being observed.
The largest optical telescope in use today is the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, Canary Islands. It has a primary mirror diameter of 10.4 meters (34 feet). Another large optical telescope is the Keck Observatory in Hawaii with two telescopes, each with a primary mirror diameter of 10 meters (33 feet).
Not necessarily.
Yes, that is correct.
No, they do not. The angular resolution of a telescope is determined by the wavelength of the radiation it is measuring and its diameter. Since optical telescopes detect shorter wavelengths than radio telescopes, they generally have better angular resolution for viewing fine details.
Yes, that's correct. The longer wavelengths of radio waves mean that radio telescopes have poorer angular resolution compared to optical telescopes. This is because resolving power is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves being observed.
1) light-gethering power, 2) resolving power, and 3) magnifying power
Radio telescopes collect radio waves. Optical telescopes capture visible light waves.
The largest optical telescope in use today is the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, Canary Islands. It has a primary mirror diameter of 10.4 meters (34 feet). Another large optical telescope is the Keck Observatory in Hawaii with two telescopes, each with a primary mirror diameter of 10 meters (33 feet).
No they are not bigger then radio telescopes at all.
Not necessarily.
They are optical telescopes.
Yes, that is correct.
Radio telescopes collect radio waves. Optical telescopes capture visible light waves.
beams of light
aperture
Basically, the catadioptric telescope is just one of the 3 main types of the optical telescopes.The other 2 main types of optical telescopes are the refracting telescopes and the reflecting telescopes.