These days astronomers do very little naked-eye study of the planets with a telescope. The primary function of a telescope is for direct photography, spectroscopic studies, or photometric work because these techniques leave a record that astronomers can study as needed. Also using a radiation detector like a photographic emulsion or a photoelectric device enables astronomers to make quantitative measurements, something generally not possible with eye observations. Planetary photographs have been collected from various observatories worldwide in an international center in France that now contains over 33,000 pictures.
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Study of Planets
These days astronomers do very little naked-eye study of the planets with a telescope. The primary function of a telescope is for direct photography, spectroscopic studies, or photometric work because these techniques leave a record that astronomers can study as needed. Also using a radiation detector like a photographic emulsion or a photoelectric device enables astronomers to make quantitative measurements, something generally not possible with eye observations. Planetary photographs have been collected from various observatories worldwide in an international center in France that now contains over 33,000 pictures.
