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Astronomy & Space vocabulary · Telescopes & Observation

Space telescope

Meaning in astronomy & space, with examples

nounCommon term

In astronomy & space, space telescope means: A telescope placed in orbit or deep space, above Earth's atmosphere, so it gets sharper images and can detect light the atmosphere blocks, such as infrared, ultraviolet and X-rays.

In Turkish: uzay teleskobu

How it is used

The best-known examples are the Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, and the James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021. Astronomers compete for observing time on them, and agencies share the images with the public.

Example sentences

  1. The James Webb Space Telescope observes mainly in infrared light.

  2. Free from air turbulence, a space telescope produces much sharper images.

Common collocations

  • Hubble Space Telescope
  • James Webb Space Telescope
  • infrared space telescope
  • space telescope images
  • telescopeAn instrument that collects light or other radiation from distant objects with lenses, mirrors or antennas, so that faint and far-away things can be seen and studied.
  • observatoryA building or site with telescopes and instruments for observing the sky. Many large observatories are built on high, dry mountains far from city lights.
  • radio telescopeA telescope that collects radio waves from space with a large dish or a set of antennas instead of visible light. It can observe through clouds and during the day.
  • exoplanetA planet that orbits a star other than the Sun. The first one around a Sun-like star was found in 1995, and thousands are known today.

More terms: Telescopes & Observation

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