Radio Astronomy vs Space-based Telescopes
As space technology continues to advance, astronomers have more options for detecting and studying celestial objects than ever before. Two popular methods are radio astronomy and space-based telescopes. In this blog post, we will compare the two methods and weigh their pros and cons.
Radio Astronomy
Radio astronomy involves using radio telescopes to collect and analyze radiation emitted by celestial objects. This type of astronomy allows astronomers to observe objects that may be invisible to traditional telescopes as well as study objects such as pulsars and quasars.
One advantage of radio astronomy is that radio waves can pass through gas and dust, allowing radio telescopes to observe objects that optical and infrared telescopes cannot. However, radio telescopes have limited resolution, meaning that it can be difficult to distinguish between different objects.
Space-based Telescopes
Space-based telescopes, on the other hand, are telescopes that are launched into space to observe the universe. Examples of space-based telescopes include the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Space-based telescopes have a much higher resolution than ground-based telescopes because they are not affected by atmospheric turbulence. In addition, space-based telescopes are typically able to observe a wider range of electromagnetic spectrum, including ultraviolet and X-ray radiation.
However, space-based telescopes are very expensive to launch and maintain. For example, the James Webb Space Telescope, which is set to launch in late 2021, has a cost of $10 billion.
So, which one is better?
The truth is, neither method is better than the other. They each have their advantages and disadvantages, and astronomers use both methods in order to gain a more complete picture of the universe.
Radio astronomy is better for observing low-frequency radio waves that can penetrate gas and dust clouds in space. However, space-based telescopes are able to observe a wider range of the electromagnetic spectrum and have a higher resolution.
Ultimately, the choice of which method to use depends on the specific research question being asked. Astronomers must weigh the pros and cons of each method and choose the one that is best suited to their needs.