Telescopic Terms
Most modern telescopes make use of this glass-based surface instead of need to bend light through an objective lens.
What is a mirror?
This Italian astronomer and physicist with a wonderfully alliterative name was the inventor of the modern telescope.
Who is Galileo (Galilei)?
The ______ Space Telescope, named after Edwin, is known for producing some of the most famous photographs of the universe we know.
What is the Hubble Space Telescope?
This religious institution had a large stake in making sure geocentrism stayed the model of the solar system, despite Galileo's discoveries.
What is the Roman Catholic Church?
This type of lens shape, used in Galileo's telescope's eyepiece, gets its name from the surface notably dipping inwards.
What is concave?
This early type of telescope was invented by Galileo, and involved the bending of light through two lenses.
What is a refractor telescope?
Despite being more famous for his contributions to physics and calculus, this English polymath created his own version of the telescope that is now a staple among amateur astronomers.
Who is (Sir Isaac) Newton?
The _________ _______ Telescope, also known as the ELT, is a telescope that certainly isn't shy about its size.
What is the Extremely Large Telescope?
What is the Renaissance?
In a refractor telescope, this lens has always been convex, in order to converge incoming light.
What is the objective lens?
This prototype for the telescope was invented by the Dutch, primarily for gaining a military advantage.
What is a spyglass?
Flat-earthers need to get with the program, as this Greek philosopher has known the Earth was a globe since 350 BC.
Who is Aristotle?
The _____ ______ Telescope, created by William Herschel in 1789, definitely doesn't leave its length to the imagination of its viewers.
What is the 40 Foot Telescope?
When the retrograde motion of planets was discovered, geocentrism was saved by this Greco-Roman astronomer.
Who is Ptolemy?
William Herschel's comically long telescope for the era did help us find this comically named planet... at least, assuming you pronounce it wrong.
What is Uranus? (teehee)
In physics, this term refers to the exact moment that light converges onto a single point.
What is the focal point?
Although this Polish Renaissance polymath deduced the correct order of the planets, his work wouldn't be proven until over half a century later.
Who is (Nicolaus) Copernicus?
The _____ _____ Space Telescope began its mission in 2022, bringing with it hyper-sensitive instruments to detect light from the furthest reaches of space.
When Galileo discovered a set of moons orbiting around this planet, he had officially proven that geocentrism was utterly false.
What is Jupiter?
This visual effect is generated by inconsistencies in refraction, causing the image to blur and telescopes using refraction to fall out of favor.
What is chromatic aberration?
This more modern method of using a telescope involves detecting specific frequencies of light to determine the chemical makeup of atmospheres and galaxies.
What is spectroscopy?
This man's primary vocation was a Catholic priest, yet his design for a reflector telescope is the most commonly used among observatories today.
Who is (Laurent) Cassegrain?
The Large _____ Telescope, a modern telescope located in Arizona, emulates another magnifying device that is typically more suited for bird-watching.
What is the Large Binocular Telescope?
This book written by Galileo was outlawed and burned by authorities after he was found guilty of heresy. (Provide either the translated name, or get 2x points for the real name!)
What is the Starry Messenger? (Sidereus Nuncius?)
As a consequence of wanting to optimize this performance aspect of a telescope, modern telescopes must be incredibly large and very long.
What is magnification?