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telescope
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Keck Observatory Galileo's telescopes refractor at Lick Observatory focal length of a lens refracting telescope telescope at Birr Castle concave mirror Newton's reflecting telescope Cassegrain reflector Schmidt telescope
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telescope summary
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Astronomy and Space Quiz
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Infinite space background with silhouette of telescope. This image elements furnished by NASA.
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Keck Observatory
Keck Observatory Aerial view of the Keck Observatory's twin domes, which are opened to reveal the telescopes. Keck II is on the left and Keck I on the right.

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Also known as: telescope
Written by
Kenneth I. Kellermann
Senior Scientist, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, Virginia. Coeditor of Galactic and Extragalactic Radio Astronomy.
Kenneth I. Kellermann,
B.L. Klock
Physical Scientist, Research and Engineering Directorate, Advanced Weapons Systems Division, Defense Mapping Agency, U.S. Department of Defense, Washington, D.C. Editor of Fundamental Star Catalogs.
B.L. Klock•All
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Key People:
Lewis Morris Rutherfurd
Giuseppe Campani

telescope, device used to form magnified images of distant objects. The telescope is undoubtedly the most important investigative tool in astronomy. It provides a means of collecting and analyzing radiation from celestial objects, even those in the far reaches of the universe. Galileo revolutionized astronomy when he applied the telescope to the study of extraterrestrial bodies in the early 17th century. Until then, magnification instruments had never been used for this purpose. Since Galileo’s pioneering work, increasingly more powerful optical telescopes have been developed, as has a wide array of instruments capable of detecting and measuring radiation in every region ...(100 of 6033 words)

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