Exploring the archives of both Liverpool's World Museum alongside Emma Gill, the Assistant Curator of Space and Antiquities, and the Jodrell Bank Observatory provided me with valuable insights into the diverse methods astronomers employ to visualise the cosmos.
Encountering the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) within the
archives unveiled its role in capturing mesmerising images and observations.
Planetary nebulae, formed during a star's AGB stage, appeared vividly through
historical records.
The "radio telescope" concept became tangible, collecting radio waves from space and transforming them into electrical signals for computer processing. The significance of "supernova remnants" in studying the aftermath of stellar explosions dawned on me.
Delving into historical methods, I marvelled at the legacy of "photographic plates." These chemical wonders captured celestial images and offered historical context despite being surpassed by modern technology. Despite being surpassed by modern technologies, photographic plates hold a significant place in our understanding of the universe's history and formation. By using negative images, astronomers aimed to enhance image quality and facilitate the detection of faint objects against a clear or white background.
"Photomultiplier tubes" surfaced as light amplifiers, facilitating the detection of faint signals from distant cosmic objects. Their quantum efficiency intrigued me.
The revolutionary "Charged-Couple Devices (CCDs)" redefined astronomical imaging. Understanding their function as thin silicon slices capturing photons and translating them into electrical signals deepened my appreciation.
“Spectrographs” entered the scene as instruments to record and analyse
astronomical spectra. By dispersing light into its component wavelengths,
spectrographs enabled the determination of various properties, including surface
temperature, velocity, density, and chemical composition of stars.
“Photometry”, on the other hand, measured the brightness or flux of electromagnetic radiation from celestial objects, providing insights into their colour and temperature.
My understanding expanded to include the limitations of electromagnetic radiation from space, with only radio frequencies, visible light, and some ultraviolet light reaching Earth's surface. Astronomers' creativity in using balloons and rockets to capture data resonated deeply.
Interferometry, a technique utilising separated collectors, enhanced resolution in astronomical observations. By linking radio telescopes, astronomers could obtain broader and more detailed images. The Jodrell Bank Observatory's Lovell Telescope, one of the first of its kind, was instrumental in tracking meteors and even Sputnik rocket signals during its historical moments.
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