Space Telescopes
What Is a Telescope?
A telescope is a tool that makes far‑away things look bigger.
Ground telescopes sit on Earth, but clouds, weather, and city lights can hide the stars.
A space telescope lives above the atmosphere, so it sees the sky clearly all the time.
How Space Telescopes Work
- Launch – A rocket carries the telescope into orbit.
- Point – Tiny motors turn the telescope to aim at a star, planet, or galaxy.
- Collect Light – Mirrors or lenses gather faint light that traveled millions or billions of miles.
- Send Data – The telescope turns the light into digital pictures and sends them back to Earth with radio signals.
Because there is no air in space, the pictures are sharper and can show colors that our eyes can’t see.
Famous Space Telescopes
| Telescope | Launched | What It Looks At |
|---|---|---|
| Hubble | 1990 | Distant galaxies, nebulae, and planets |
| Spitzer | 2003 | Warm dust and infrared glow of stars |
| James Webb | 2021 | First galaxies, exoplanet atmospheres, and far‑infrared clouds |
Each telescope teaches us new things about the universe. Hubble showed us swirling galaxies, Spitzer revealed hidden heat, and James Webb is now peeking at the earliest light after the Big Bang.
Why Space Telescopes Matter
- Clear Views – No clouds or city lights block the view.
- New Discoveries – Scientists find planets around other stars and learn how stars are born.
- Inspiration – Amazing pictures spark curiosity and help kids imagine becoming astronomers.
Space telescopes turn tiny points of light into stunning stories about our cosmic neighborhood. The next time you look up at the night sky, remember that special eyes are watching from high above, sharing the wonders of space with everyone on Earth.