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NASA'S Great ObservatoriesWhy are space observatories important? The answer concerns twinkling stars in the night sky. To reach telescopes on Earth, light from distant objects has to penetrate Earth's atmosphere. Although the sky may look clear, the gases that make up our atmosphere cause problems for astronomers. These gases absorb the majority of radiation emanating from celestial bodies so that it never reaches the astronomer's telescope. Radiation that does make it to the surface is distorted by pockets of warm and cool air, causing the twinkling effect. In spite of advanced computer enhancement, the images finally seen by astronomers are incomplete. NASA, in conjunction with other countries' space agencies, commercial companies, and the international community, has built observatories such as the Hubble Space Telescope, the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory to find the answers to numerous questions about the universe. With the capabilities the Space Shuttle provides, scientist now have the means for deploying these observatories from the Shuttle's cargo bay directly into orbit.
Document ID
20000025445
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Other - NASA Educational Publication (EP)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.19:12-384-HQ
NASA/EP-1998-12-384-HQ
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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