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Chapter 6: Problem 43

If you were in charge of selecting a site for a new observatory, what factors would you consider important?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Key considerations for a new observatory site will be geographical factors such as high altitude and low light pollution, scientific factors like the visibility of desired celestial bodies and stability of atmospheric conditions, and development and accessibility factors such as transport links, availability of necessary infrastructure and environmental impact.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Geographic Factors

Start by identifying the geographical factors that are essential for setting up an observatory. These include a high altitude location, a site with low light pollution and stable atmospheric conditions.
02

Discuss the Scientific Factors

Next, discuss the scientific factors that would influence the decision. Firstly, the site should be in a region where the desired celestial bodies are visible. Prevalent weather conditions and annual cloud cover should also be taken into account as these factors may obstruct astronomical observations. Additionally, consideration should be given to how easy or difficult it is to install and maintain necessary equipment at the potential location.
03

Consider the Accessibility and Development Factors

Finally, think about the factors related to accessibility and development. These include the proximity of the site to transport links, the availability of necessary infrastructure, and concerns about the environmental impact of the construction and operation of the observatory.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Describe refraction and reflection. Explain how these processes enable astronomers to build telescopes.

Three of the telescopes shown in Figure 6-16-the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT), the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO), and the Submillimeter Array (SMA)are designed to detect radiation with wavelengths close to \(1 \mathrm{~mm}\). Search for current information about JCMT, CSO, and SMA on the World Wide Web. What kinds of celestial objects emit radiation at these wavelengths? What can astronomers see using JCMT, CSO, and SMA that cannot be observed at other wavelengths? Why is it important that they be at high altitude? How large are the primary mirrors used in JCMT, CSO, and SMA? What are the differences among the three telescopes? Which can be used in the daytime? What recent discoveries have been made using JCMT, CSO, or SMA?

What kind of telescope would you use if you wanted to take a color photograph entirely free of chromatic aberration? Explain your answer.

(a) Compare the light-gathering power of the Keck I 10.0-m telescope with that of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), which has a \(2.4-\mathrm{m}\) objective mirror. (b) What advantages does Keck I have over HST? What advantages does HST have over Keck I?

What is diffraction? Why does it limit the angular resolution of a telescope? What other physical phenomenon is often a more important restriction on angular resolution?
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