Pros/Cons of space vs ground-based observing - Research Paper Example

March 29 Pros/Cons of space vs ground-based observing One of the advantages of the use of space telescopes is that it does not have to undergo the atmospheric distortion that ground-based ones have to endure. This ensures that there are sharper images of the astronomical features that are being observed. Another advantage of space-based telescopes is that it does not have to deal with the light that is often scattered by the atmosphere during observation. The effect of the latter often causes ground-based telescopes to display the twinkling of the stars. Because they are above the atmosphere, space based telescopes have the ability not only to show images clearly, but is also able to see light at different wavelengths. The latter is something that ground based telescopes are rarely able to do, if they can at all. On the ground level, frequencies can be observed within the radio and optical ranges, however, aside from that; they have a tendency of not working well because of the interference from the atmosphere (Angel 427). This is because of the fact that the atmosphere is more likely than not to hurt the signal from ground-based telescopes. Space telescopes do not suffer from this problem and because of this advantage; these telescopes are often able to observe large areas of the electromagnetic spectrum such as ultraviolet and gamma rays. While space telescopes have an obvious advantage over ground based ones, the latter have the advantage of design. Space based telescopes have the disadvantage of needing large mirrors to ensure that they have the correct image resolution, due to the large amount of light that it is able to gather. Space telescopes need large mirrors and this creates the problem of putting telescopes with large mirrors in space ("Space Telescopes: Second Sight" 81). This is a situation that ground-based telescopes do not have to encounter, and this is because they do not have to use large mirrors for observation. Even if those telescopes require large mirrors, it is much easier for those who develop them to set up the mirrors, no matter the size. Ground telescopes are not constrained by design issues, and they can be built in any design that ensures the best image resolution possible. Ground based telescopes, because of the flexibility in designing them, can be designed into improved means of observing as better telescopes are being made. Ground based telescopes have the advantage over their counterparts in space of being built in bigger proportions. This not only makes their image resolution much better, but it also ensures that there are no constraints that are often developed in sending large telescopes to space. Despite the problems with the atmosphere, especially the weather, ground based telescopes have the advantage of being more powerful than space based ones because their design is not as limited as the space based ones. With better designs being made, it is only a matter of time before the problems with weather and atmosphere are overcome and the need for space-based telescopes is reduced. Advantages of Infrared Astronomy over other colors Infrared light was a major discovery that was made by the British astronomer, William Herschel and it is the starlight that was produced and emitted and has been absorbed and reemitted as infrared light. This light is transmitted through different wavelengths and these reveal different natural phenomena, and these carry with them some evidence of the entire history of the universe. Among the major advantage of making observations through infrared light is that particles of dust are transparent to it and this ensures that a clear image of what is being observed is made. Therefore, while a regular telescope would not be used to view a star that has been enshrouded by dust, one with the infrared is not only able to view it, but it also ensures that the image is clear. In addition, those cold objects in space that cannot be viewed by regular telescopes can be detected via infrared light and be made visible to the viewer. It is much easier to use infrared over other colors because of the fact that it is able to view those objects, which cannot be viewed using other colors. Infrared, as stated above, has been transmitted through time immemorial and this makes it a credible source of information concerning the universe and the various objects within it (Pockley 38). Other colors do not have this advantage and this makes observations using them not to be as credible as using infrared. Infrared cannot only be used to observe objects that are not visible to the naked eye; it can also be used to confirm observations using other colors. One of the major advantages of infrared over other colors is that it can be used t view objects that are too cold to be viewed using other colors. Among the objects that can be viewed using infrared are failed stars and asteroids and these are objects which cannot be easily seen (Thi, et al 60). The power of infrared telescopes is most effective when there is no moisture around it because moisture in the atmosphere often absorbs infrared radiation. Infrared has very few limitations and these are often caused by the earth’s atmosphere. In order to maximize its effectiveness, it is often best to establish such telescopes in high and dry areas. Once this is done, then there are extremely little limitations to their abilities in astronomical observations. Infrared telescopes can be used for the purpose of making new discoveries in space especially in places where regular telescopes cannot observe. Hence, the ideal place for the use of infrared telescopes is in space where its resolution is not hampered by the atmosphere. Since they are often mounted in space, such telescopes are the best means through which to view the world outside earth. The resolutions of the infrared images are so great that many of the most recent discoveries in space have been made because of their use. When compared to other means of observation, it can be said that the use of infrared is one of the cheapest means, and in astrology, cost effectiveness is one of the best ways to achieve results quickly. Missions to explore our solar system There have been quite a large number of missions that have been sent out from earth for the purpose of exploring the solar system. Among the earliest of these was the Luna 1 operation whose purpose was to explore the Moon. The original intention of this probe was to impact on the satellite, but this did not happen because it missed its target and ended up being the first object made on earth to orbit the sun. The probe Mariner 2 made the other explorative mission, in 1962, whose mission was to fly by the planet Venus, and it was the first vehicle of its kind to do so. The Mariner 4 was the earliest probe to make a flyby to the planet Mars in 1965 and this mission was quickly followed by that of the Mariner 10, which was the foremost probe to pass by the planet Mercury in 1974 (Howard 1359). The exploration of the outer planets came several years later when Pioneer 10 flew by Jupiter in the year 1973 and the probe Pioneer 11 which completed its mission to Saturn in 1979 followed this. Several probes were sent out to the outer planets in 1977 and these, known as the Voyager probes, passed by the planets Jupiter and Saturn in 1979 and 1980 respectively. The Voyager 2 probe continued on its way to the planets Uranus and Neptune, which it approached later in the decade. The Voyager probes are at the moment continuing their mission in the outer planets where they are exploring the diverse features of these planets as well as other astronomical phenomena at the edge of the solar system. NASA has stated that the Voyager probes have come to encounter the termination shock, while the first close view of a comet was made by the International Cometary Explorer, which passed by the comet named Giacobini – Zinner in 1985. The Galileo probe, which was on its way to Jupiter, was the first of its kind to explore asteroids, and it captured images of the same in 1991 and 1993. The New Horizons probe, which was launched in 2006, is intended to be the first manmade craft to explore the region known as the Kuiper belt. Not only is this probe supposed to explore this belt, but it is also intended to fly by Pluto by the year 2015. It has been stated that if the mission of New Horizons is successful, then it will be extended to the exploration of various objects at the Kuiper Belt. There is likelihood that the exploration of the solar system beyond the Asteroid Belt will be stalled because of the shortage of Plutonium 238 that NASA is currently experiencing (Oberg 28). While this may be the case, plenty of discoveries have been made through the probe missions that have been sent to explore the solar system. In conclusion, it can only be hoped that these missions will be expanded in future and that these will culminate into manned missions. Works Cited Angel, Roger. "Future Optical and Infrared Telescopes. “ Nature 409.6818 (2001): 427-30. Howard, W. E. "Robotic Exploration of the Solar System: Pt. 1: The Golden Age 1957-1982." Choice 45.8 (2008): 1359-60. Oberg, James. "How we’ll Probe the Solar System." Astronomy 2011: 28-33. Pockley, Peter. "Deep Freeze Favours Search for Origins of Universe.” Australasian Science 2001: 38-9. "Space Telescopes: Second Sight." The Economist Jul 17 1993: 81-. Thi, W. F., et al. "Substantial Reservoirs of Molecular Hydrogen in the Debris Disks Around Young Stars." Nature 409.6816 (2001): 60-3. Read More