No, telescopes cannot see through clouds. Telescopes may use a magnifying glass that essentially allows us to zoom extremely far out into space however, it does not have the power (right now that is) to look through objects that the human eye cannot. For example, a magnify glass wouldn’t allow you to see the through … Read more
Huygens eyepieces are used for magnification in optical devices, such as telescopes and microscopes. These eyepieces consist of two planoconvex lenses separated a short distance in the eyepiece, enhancing images using only white lights. For more information regarding Huygens eyepieces, such as how they work, where they come from, and the pros and cons to … Read more
There is something wondrous about spotting a distant planet in your telescope and understanding that not only is that planet traveling faster than a bullet but that you are also viewing it in the past. When it comes to viewing the stars, you want the best eyepieces available. The Plössl eyepiece is one such tool … Read more
A celestial body is considered to be tidally locked when it rotates around an object at the exact same pace that it orbits that body. Essentially, the length of a day and a year is the same for a tidally locked planet, because it takes the same amount of time to fully rotate on its … Read more
All known gas giants, like Jupiter and Saturn, have solid cores. These cores are either rocky or metallic, and aren’t completely solid throughout, with some of the core being comprised of molten metal and rock. It’s hard to imagine that the most massive things in our solar system besides the Sun could be made of something … Read more
Tidal locking is a phenomenon in which the locked celestial body’s day and year are the same length, because the amount of time it takes to complete an orbit around its own axis and around the planet/body it is orbiting is equal. This occurs because of gravitational forces acting upon the bodies. Earth is not … Read more
Europa is the sixth Moon of Jupiter. It orbits the planet once every three and a half earth days and is tidally locked, meaning that it always faces Jupiter on the same side. Continue reading to explore why Europa is tidally locked and the effects this has on both it and the planet Jupiter. The … Read more
Jupiter is not tidally locked to the sun, any of its own moons, or any other planet. Jupiter’s distance from the Sun and other planets, combined with its enormous size, prevents it from becoming tidally locked. That being said, all of Jupiter’s major moons are tidally locked to Jupiter, but not the other way around. … Read more
Telescopes are built in mountains to eliminate light pollution and minimize the distorting effect of the atmosphere. Light pollution and atmospheric distortion are the two most problematic things for astronomers and the optical telescopes they use, so building the telescope on the peak of a mountain lessens these interferences as much as possible. Ever since … Read more
Unlike traditional lenses, an aspheric eyepiece does not have a spherical surface. This non-spherical surface is able to correct aberrations, often leading to more improved and cheap optical results. Aspheric eyepieces are often used in glasses, telescopes, and other optical objects as a result. Whether you are a fan of telescopes or need eyeglasses yourself, … Read more