Observing the Universe
Astronomy was born out of humankind's need to measure time and seasons, marking the best times to plant. In ancient times, the study of the stars
was mixed with superstition and ritual. The megalithic monument Stonehenge, found in southern England, is an example of this. Today, thanks to advances in new technologies, such as the giant telescopes installed in various locations around the planet, we have discovered many new things about the universe. The VLT (Very Large Telescope), astronomy's new monster telescope located in Chile, is part of an attempt to find planets
beyond the solar system, because many astronomers suspect that life is not exclusive to the Earth.
was mixed with superstition and ritual. The megalithic monument Stonehenge, found in southern England, is an example of this. Today, thanks to advances in new technologies, such as the giant telescopes installed in various locations around the planet, we have discovered many new things about the universe. The VLT (Very Large Telescope), astronomy's new monster telescope located in Chile, is part of an attempt to find planets
beyond the solar system, because many astronomers suspect that life is not exclusive to the Earth.
Astronomical Theories
For a long time, it was believed that the Earth was stationary. The Sun, the Moon, and the planets were thought to orbit it. To study the sky and calculate its movements, people began to build instruments, such as the astrolabe, armillary sphere, and telescope. The telescope revolutionized the conception of the universe. Instead of the Earth being at the center of the universe, it was suggested that the Earth and other planets travel around the Sun. The Roman Catholic Church opposed the idea and, for a time, persecuted dissident astronomers and banned their theories
Geocentric Model
Before telescopes, binoculars, and modern observatories existed, little was known about the Earth. Many believed that the Earth was fixed and that the Sun, the Moon, and the five known planets orbited it in circles. This geocentric model was promoted by the Egyptian astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, who in the 2nd century AD compiled the astronomical ideas of the ancient Greek astronomers (in particular, those of Aristotle, who had proposed the Earth as the center of the universe, with the celestial objects revolving around it). Although other ancient astronomers, such as Aristarchus of Samus, proposed that the Earth was round and rotated around the Sun, Aristotle’s ideas were accepted as true for 16 centuries, and at times Aristotle’s ideas were defended and preserved by the Roman Catholic Church.
Heliocentric Model
In 1543, a few months before his death, Nicolaus Copernicus published the book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, inaugurating what is now known as the Copernican Revolution. The Polish astronomer developed the heliocentric theory (from helios, the Greek word for “the Sun”), which contradicted the geocentric theory. Copernicus’s new postulate inverted the traditional relationship of the Sun and the Earth, identifying the Sun as
the center of the universe and the Earth as one of many solar satellites. Copernicus argued that spheres moved in endless, circular orbits. Since the universe and all the celestial bodies were thought to be spherical, he argued that their movements must also be circular and uniform (the Ptolemaic system considered the planets’ circuits to be irregular). Copernicus reasoned that, since the movements of the planets appeared to be irregular, the Earth must not be the center of the universe. These discoveries were contrary to the views promulgated by the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, both Roman Catholics and Protestants suppressed any writings advocating these beliefs. When Galileo Galilei was brought to trial by the Roman Catholic Church for advocating the Copernican theory, he was forced to renounce his views.
Geocentric Model
Before telescopes, binoculars, and modern observatories existed, little was known about the Earth. Many believed that the Earth was fixed and that the Sun, the Moon, and the five known planets orbited it in circles. This geocentric model was promoted by the Egyptian astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, who in the 2nd century AD compiled the astronomical ideas of the ancient Greek astronomers (in particular, those of Aristotle, who had proposed the Earth as the center of the universe, with the celestial objects revolving around it). Although other ancient astronomers, such as Aristarchus of Samus, proposed that the Earth was round and rotated around the Sun, Aristotle’s ideas were accepted as true for 16 centuries, and at times Aristotle’s ideas were defended and preserved by the Roman Catholic Church.
Heliocentric Model
In 1543, a few months before his death, Nicolaus Copernicus published the book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, inaugurating what is now known as the Copernican Revolution. The Polish astronomer developed the heliocentric theory (from helios, the Greek word for “the Sun”), which contradicted the geocentric theory. Copernicus’s new postulate inverted the traditional relationship of the Sun and the Earth, identifying the Sun as
the center of the universe and the Earth as one of many solar satellites. Copernicus argued that spheres moved in endless, circular orbits. Since the universe and all the celestial bodies were thought to be spherical, he argued that their movements must also be circular and uniform (the Ptolemaic system considered the planets’ circuits to be irregular). Copernicus reasoned that, since the movements of the planets appeared to be irregular, the Earth must not be the center of the universe. These discoveries were contrary to the views promulgated by the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, both Roman Catholics and Protestants suppressed any writings advocating these beliefs. When Galileo Galilei was brought to trial by the Roman Catholic Church for advocating the Copernican theory, he was forced to renounce his views.
GALILEO’S TELESCOPE
The telescope is thought to have been invented in 1609 by the Dutch optician Hans Lippershey but had no real scientific application until Galileo Galilei improved and adapted it to observe celestial bodies. Galileo’s first telescope, made of a leather tube covered by a lens at each end (one lens convex and the other concave), magnified objects up to 30 times. Using the telescope, Galileo discovered that the Sun’s surface had imperfections (sunspots), that the Moon had mountains and craters, and that there were four moons, or satellites, that traveled around Jupiter.
MEASUREMENTS
Noticing that the Sun, the Moon, and the stars moved in cycles, ancient civilizations found they could use the sky as both a clock and a calendar. However, ancient astronomers had difficulties performing the complex calculations needed to predict the positions of stars accurately enough to create a truly precise calendar. A useful tool developed to perform this task was the astrolabe. Its engraved plates reproduce the celestial sphere in two dimensions, allowing the elevations of the celestial bodies to be measured.
MEASUREMENTS
Noticing that the Sun, the Moon, and the stars moved in cycles, ancient civilizations found they could use the sky as both a clock and a calendar.
However, ancient astronomers had difficulties performing the complex calculations needed to predict the positions of stars accurately enough to create a truly precise calendar. A useful tool developed to perform this task was the astrolabe. Its engraved plates reproduce the celestial sphere in
two dimensions, allowing the elevations of the celestial bodies to be measured.
TIME
This astrolabe was used by ancient Persians. To them, astronomy functioned as a kind of agricultural calendar
THE TRAVELERS
After many years and great advancements in technology, scientists decided that space observation conducted only from the Earth’s surface was insufficient. In 1959, the first space probe was launched, an automatic vehicle that flew to the Moon and photographed its hidden face. The space probes Voyager 1 and 2 explored the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, a milestone in space exploration. In 2005, Voyager 1 reached the region called Termination Shock, the frontier of the solar system, representing the farthest region explored by humanity. Both probes carried with them golden discs, named Sounds of Earth, containing sounds and images portraying the diversity of life on Earth.
However, ancient astronomers had difficulties performing the complex calculations needed to predict the positions of stars accurately enough to create a truly precise calendar. A useful tool developed to perform this task was the astrolabe. Its engraved plates reproduce the celestial sphere in
two dimensions, allowing the elevations of the celestial bodies to be measured.
TIME
This astrolabe was used by ancient Persians. To them, astronomy functioned as a kind of agricultural calendar
THE TRAVELERS
After many years and great advancements in technology, scientists decided that space observation conducted only from the Earth’s surface was insufficient. In 1959, the first space probe was launched, an automatic vehicle that flew to the Moon and photographed its hidden face. The space probes Voyager 1 and 2 explored the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, a milestone in space exploration. In 2005, Voyager 1 reached the region called Termination Shock, the frontier of the solar system, representing the farthest region explored by humanity. Both probes carried with them golden discs, named Sounds of Earth, containing sounds and images portraying the diversity of life on Earth.
From the Home -Earth
Stargazing is not difficult. After learning to locate celestial objects, man people find the hobby very gratifying. With the aid of a star map, you can recognize galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, planets, and other objects. Some of these treasures of the universe are visible with the unaided eye, but others require binoculars or even more sophisticated telescopes. Familiarity with the night sky is useful in many ways.
Basics
Before stepping out to observe the night sky, make sure you have everything you need. If you collect all your supplies beforehand, you will avoid having to expose your eyes to bright light once they have adjusted to darkness. In addition to binoculars, star maps, and a notebook, you should bring warm clothes, a comfortable seat, and something to drink.
Observable Objects
The sky is a very busy place. Not only are there stars and planets, but there are also satellites, airplanes, comets, and meteorites. Fortunately all become recognizable by their appearance as well as their movement.
Measurement methods
A planisphere is a circular star chart that is used to locate celestial bodies in the celestial sphere. To identify a particular object, your own arms and body can be used to measure its direction and altitude in relation to the horizon.
Basics
Before stepping out to observe the night sky, make sure you have everything you need. If you collect all your supplies beforehand, you will avoid having to expose your eyes to bright light once they have adjusted to darkness. In addition to binoculars, star maps, and a notebook, you should bring warm clothes, a comfortable seat, and something to drink.
Observable Objects
The sky is a very busy place. Not only are there stars and planets, but there are also satellites, airplanes, comets, and meteorites. Fortunately all become recognizable by their appearance as well as their movement.
Measurement methods
A planisphere is a circular star chart that is used to locate celestial bodies in the celestial sphere. To identify a particular object, your own arms and body can be used to measure its direction and altitude in relation to the horizon.
Powerful Ones
The Telescope
The main feature of the VLT is its revolutionary optical design. By using adaptive and active optics, it achieves resolution similar to that possible from space.
The Paranal Observatory, one of the most advanced in the world, is located in the region of Antofagasta, Chile. It uses four identical telescopes to obtain enough light gathering power that it could see the flame of a candle on the surface of the Moon. This sophisticated collection of digital cameras, reflecting mirrors, and other instruments is mounted in the interior of four metallic structures weighing hundreds of tons. The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is operated by a scientific consortium drawn from eight European countries. One of their stated objectives is to discover new worlds orbiting other stars.
The main feature of the VLT is its revolutionary optical design. By using adaptive and active optics, it achieves resolution similar to that possible from space.
The Paranal Observatory, one of the most advanced in the world, is located in the region of Antofagasta, Chile. It uses four identical telescopes to obtain enough light gathering power that it could see the flame of a candle on the surface of the Moon. This sophisticated collection of digital cameras, reflecting mirrors, and other instruments is mounted in the interior of four metallic structures weighing hundreds of tons. The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is operated by a scientific consortium drawn from eight European countries. One of their stated objectives is to discover new worlds orbiting other stars.
Historical models
Many models of the cosmos (cosmologies) and its origin (cosmogonies) have been proposed, based on the then-available data and conceptions of the universe. Historically, cosmologies and cosmogonies were based on narratives of gods acting in various ways. Theories of an impersonal universe governed by physical laws were first proposed by the Greeks and Indians. Over the centuries, improvements in astronomical observations and theories of motion and gravitation led to ever more accurate descriptions of the universe. The modern era of cosmology began with Albert Einstein's 1915 general theory of relativity, which made it possible to quantitatively predict the origin, evolution, and conclusion of the universe as a whole. Most modern, accepted theories of cosmology are based on general relativity and, more specifically, the predicted Big Bang; however, still more careful measurements are required to determine which theory is correct.
Many cultures have stories describing the origin of the world, which may be roughly grouped into common types. In one type of story, the world is born from a world egg; such stories include the Finnish epic poem Kalevala, the Chinese story of Pangu or the Indian Brahmanda Purana. In related stories, the creation idea is caused by a single entity emanating or producing something by him- or herself, as in the Tibetan Buddhism concept of Adi-Buddha, the ancient Greek story of Gaia (Mother Earth), the Aztec goddess Coatlicue myth, the ancient Egyptian god Atum story, or the Genesis creation narrative. In another type of story, the world is created from the union of male and female deities, as in the Maori story of Rangi and Papa. In other stories, the universe is created by crafting it from pre-existing materials, such as the corpse of a dead god — as from Tiamat in the Babylonian epic Enuma Elish or from the giant Ymir in Norse mythology – or from chaotic materials, as in Izanagi and Izanami in Japanese mythology. In other stories, the universe emanates from fundamental principles, such as Brahman and Prakrti, or the yin and yang of the Tao.
Philosophical models
From the 6th century BC, the pre-Socratic Greek philosophers developed the earliest known philosophical models of the universe. The earliest Greek philosophers noted that appearances can be deceiving, and sought to understand the underlying reality behind the appearances. In particular, they noted the ability of matter to change forms (e.g., ice to water to steam) and several philosophers proposed that all the apparently different materials of the world are different forms of a single primordial material, or arche. The first to do so was Thales, who proposed this material is Water. Thales' student, Anaximander, proposed that everything came from the limitless apeiron. Anaximenes proposed Air on account of its perceived attractive and repulsive qualities that cause the arche to condense or dissociate into different forms. Anaxagoras, proposed the principle of Nous (Mind). Heraclitus proposed fire (and spoke of logos). Empedocles proposed the elements: earth, wind, air and fire. His four element theory became very popular. Like Pythagoras, Plato believed that all things were composed of number, with the Empedocles' elements taking the form of the Platonic solids. Democritus, and later philosophers—most notably Leucippus—proposed that the universe was composed of indivisible atoms moving through void (vacuum). Aristotle did not believe that was feasible because air, like water, offers resistance to motion. Air will immediately rush in to fill a void, and moreover, without resistance, it would do so indefinitely fast.
Although Heraclitus argued for eternal change, his quasi-contemporary Parmenides made the radical suggestion that all change is an illusion, that the true underlying reality is eternally unchanging and of a single nature. Parmenides denoted this reality as τὸ ἐν (The One). Parmenides' theory seemed implausible to many Greeks, but his student Zeno of Elea challenged them with several famous paradoxes. Aristotle responded to these paradoxes by developing the notion of a potential countable infinity, as well as the infinitely divisible continuum. Unlike the eternal and unchanging cycles of time, he believed the world was bounded by the celestial spheres, and thus magnitude was only finitely multiplicative.
The Indian philosopher Kanada, founder of the Vaisheshika school, developed a theory of atomism and proposed that light and heat were varieties of the same substance. In the 5th century AD, the Buddhist atomist philosopher Dignāga proposed atoms to be point-sized, durationless, and made of energy.
Astronomical models
Astronomical models of the universe were proposed soon after astronomy began with the Babylonian astronomers, who viewed the universe as a flat disk floating in the ocean, and this forms the premise for early Greek maps like those of Anaximander and Hecataeus of Miletus.
Later Greek philosophers, observing the motions of the heavenly bodies, were concerned with developing models of the universe based more profoundly on empirical evidence. The first coherent model was proposed by Eudoxus of Cnidos. According to Aristotle's physical interpretation of the model, celestial spheres eternally rotate with uniform motion around a stationary Earth. Normal matter, is entirely contained within the terrestrial sphere. This model was also refined by Callippus and after concentric spheres were abandoned, it was brought into nearly perfect agreement with astronomical observations by Ptolemy. The success of such a model is largely due to the mathematical fact that any function (such as the position of a planet) can be decomposed into a set of circular functions (the Fourier modes). Other Greek scientists, such as the Pythagorean philosopher Philolaus postulated that at the center of the universe was a "central fire" around which the Earth, Sun, Moon and Planets revolved in uniform circular motion. The Greek astronomer Aristarchus of Samos was the first known individual to propose a heliocentric model of the universe. Though the original text has been lost, a reference in Archimedes' book The Sand Reckoner describes Aristarchus' heliocentric theory.
Many cultures have stories describing the origin of the world, which may be roughly grouped into common types. In one type of story, the world is born from a world egg; such stories include the Finnish epic poem Kalevala, the Chinese story of Pangu or the Indian Brahmanda Purana. In related stories, the creation idea is caused by a single entity emanating or producing something by him- or herself, as in the Tibetan Buddhism concept of Adi-Buddha, the ancient Greek story of Gaia (Mother Earth), the Aztec goddess Coatlicue myth, the ancient Egyptian god Atum story, or the Genesis creation narrative. In another type of story, the world is created from the union of male and female deities, as in the Maori story of Rangi and Papa. In other stories, the universe is created by crafting it from pre-existing materials, such as the corpse of a dead god — as from Tiamat in the Babylonian epic Enuma Elish or from the giant Ymir in Norse mythology – or from chaotic materials, as in Izanagi and Izanami in Japanese mythology. In other stories, the universe emanates from fundamental principles, such as Brahman and Prakrti, or the yin and yang of the Tao.
Philosophical models
From the 6th century BC, the pre-Socratic Greek philosophers developed the earliest known philosophical models of the universe. The earliest Greek philosophers noted that appearances can be deceiving, and sought to understand the underlying reality behind the appearances. In particular, they noted the ability of matter to change forms (e.g., ice to water to steam) and several philosophers proposed that all the apparently different materials of the world are different forms of a single primordial material, or arche. The first to do so was Thales, who proposed this material is Water. Thales' student, Anaximander, proposed that everything came from the limitless apeiron. Anaximenes proposed Air on account of its perceived attractive and repulsive qualities that cause the arche to condense or dissociate into different forms. Anaxagoras, proposed the principle of Nous (Mind). Heraclitus proposed fire (and spoke of logos). Empedocles proposed the elements: earth, wind, air and fire. His four element theory became very popular. Like Pythagoras, Plato believed that all things were composed of number, with the Empedocles' elements taking the form of the Platonic solids. Democritus, and later philosophers—most notably Leucippus—proposed that the universe was composed of indivisible atoms moving through void (vacuum). Aristotle did not believe that was feasible because air, like water, offers resistance to motion. Air will immediately rush in to fill a void, and moreover, without resistance, it would do so indefinitely fast.
Although Heraclitus argued for eternal change, his quasi-contemporary Parmenides made the radical suggestion that all change is an illusion, that the true underlying reality is eternally unchanging and of a single nature. Parmenides denoted this reality as τὸ ἐν (The One). Parmenides' theory seemed implausible to many Greeks, but his student Zeno of Elea challenged them with several famous paradoxes. Aristotle responded to these paradoxes by developing the notion of a potential countable infinity, as well as the infinitely divisible continuum. Unlike the eternal and unchanging cycles of time, he believed the world was bounded by the celestial spheres, and thus magnitude was only finitely multiplicative.
The Indian philosopher Kanada, founder of the Vaisheshika school, developed a theory of atomism and proposed that light and heat were varieties of the same substance. In the 5th century AD, the Buddhist atomist philosopher Dignāga proposed atoms to be point-sized, durationless, and made of energy.
Astronomical models
Astronomical models of the universe were proposed soon after astronomy began with the Babylonian astronomers, who viewed the universe as a flat disk floating in the ocean, and this forms the premise for early Greek maps like those of Anaximander and Hecataeus of Miletus.
Later Greek philosophers, observing the motions of the heavenly bodies, were concerned with developing models of the universe based more profoundly on empirical evidence. The first coherent model was proposed by Eudoxus of Cnidos. According to Aristotle's physical interpretation of the model, celestial spheres eternally rotate with uniform motion around a stationary Earth. Normal matter, is entirely contained within the terrestrial sphere. This model was also refined by Callippus and after concentric spheres were abandoned, it was brought into nearly perfect agreement with astronomical observations by Ptolemy. The success of such a model is largely due to the mathematical fact that any function (such as the position of a planet) can be decomposed into a set of circular functions (the Fourier modes). Other Greek scientists, such as the Pythagorean philosopher Philolaus postulated that at the center of the universe was a "central fire" around which the Earth, Sun, Moon and Planets revolved in uniform circular motion. The Greek astronomer Aristarchus of Samos was the first known individual to propose a heliocentric model of the universe. Though the original text has been lost, a reference in Archimedes' book The Sand Reckoner describes Aristarchus' heliocentric theory.
SUPER SCOPES
V.L.A-Very Large Array Telescope
The VLA is an INTERFEROMETRY telescope,means it operates by multiplying the data from each pair of telescope together together to form interference patterns.The structure of those interference patterns,and how they change with time as the earth rotates,reflect the structure of radio sources on the SKY.We can take these patterns and use mathematical technique called FOURIER TRANSFORM to make Images.
The VLA is primarily used by Astronomers from around the world.It's also occasionally used for atmospheric/weather studies,Satellite tracking and other miscellaneous sciences..
The VLA is primarily used by Astronomers from around the world.It's also occasionally used for atmospheric/weather studies,Satellite tracking and other miscellaneous sciences..
VLBA -Very Long Baseline Array
The construction of VLBA has started in feb1986 & completed in may 1993 & first observation was done in may29 1993,which costs 85million$.
The signals from each antenna are recorded on bank of approximately 1TB hard disk and the information is time stamped using Atomic Clock's.
Once the disk drives are loaded with information,they carried to the Petev. Domenici science operations center at NAAO in soccoro.There the information undergoes signal processing in a powerful set of digital computers that carry out the INTERFEROMETRY.
These computers also make corrections for the rotation of the earth,the slight shifts in the crust of the earth overtime ,and other small measures.
The signals from each antenna are recorded on bank of approximately 1TB hard disk and the information is time stamped using Atomic Clock's.
Once the disk drives are loaded with information,they carried to the Petev. Domenici science operations center at NAAO in soccoro.There the information undergoes signal processing in a powerful set of digital computers that carry out the INTERFEROMETRY.
These computers also make corrections for the rotation of the earth,the slight shifts in the crust of the earth overtime ,and other small measures.
INTERFEROMETRY refers to a family of techniques in which waves,usually Electro-Magnetic ,are superimposed in order to extract information about waves
VLT -Very Large Telesope
Its an Optical telescope placed at an altitude of 2635km at Atacama Desert chile,and is operated by European Southern Observatory[ESO].It consists of Four Individual telescopes named Antu,Kueyen,Melipal&Yepun.It also consists of small Auxiliary telescopes.The diameter of Large one is 8.2m and the small one is 1.8m.
It operates at visible & infrared wavelength.Each individual telescope can detect objects roughly four billion times fainter than what we can be detectable by Naked Eye.The light beams are combined in VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred meters.
VST -VLT Survey Telescope
VLT survey telescope is added to the array of VLT telescopes.VST[VLT-ST] is a wide field survey telescope with a field of view twice as broad as the full moon.Its largest one designed to exclusively survey the sky in visible light.
In planetary science,the survey telescope aims to discover and study remote solar system bodies such as Trans-Neptunian Objects,as well as search for Extra Solar Planets
In planetary science,the survey telescope aims to discover and study remote solar system bodies such as Trans-Neptunian Objects,as well as search for Extra Solar Planets
La Silla
La silla Observatory is an Astronomical Observatory in chile with three telescopes built & operated by ESO.Located outskirts of the chilean Atacama Desert,at an altitude of 2400m.It has one of the darkest night skies on the earth. 3.58m New Technology Telescope(NIT) was the first in the world to have a computer controlled main mirror,a technology developed by ESO & now applied to most of the world's current largest telescopes. 3.60m telescope in now home to world's foremost Extrasolar planet hunter.High Accuracy Velocity Planet Searcher HARPS
The 67m pixel wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2m telescope has taken many amazing images of celestial objects, some of which have now become icons in their own right
The 67m pixel wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2m telescope has taken many amazing images of celestial objects, some of which have now become icons in their own right
APEX-Atacama Pathfinder Experimental telescope
APEX is a radio telescope located at 5100m above sea-level at Atacama desert.APEX is a 12m diameter telescope,operating at millimeter & sub-millimeter wavelength's between infrared light and radio waves
Sub millimeter astronomy is relatively unexplored frointer in astronomy and reveals a universe that cannot be seen in the more familiar visible or infrared light.
It is ideal for studying "COLD UNIVERSE"
Sub millimeter astronomy is relatively unexplored frointer in astronomy and reveals a universe that cannot be seen in the more familiar visible or infrared light.
It is ideal for studying "COLD UNIVERSE"
ALMA-Atacama Large Millimeter Array
ALMA is an array of radio telescopes in Atacama desert & constructed on the chajnantor platue 5000m altitude consisting of 66 number of 12m & 7m diameter radio telescopes.These telescopes observe at millimeter & sub-millimeter wavelenghts.ALMA is expected to provide insight on star birth during the early universe & detailed imaging of local star& planet information.It spread over a distance of 16km.The global collaboration i sthe largest groung-based astronomical project.
What is Sub-Millimeter astronomy?
Light at these wavelengths comes from vast cold clouds in the interstellar space,at temperatures only a few tens of degree above absolute zero,and from some of the earliest & most distant galaxies in the universe.Astronomers can use it to study the chemical & physical conditions in molecular clouds-the dense regions of gas & dust where new stars being born.Often these regions of the universe are dark and obscured in the visible light,but they shine brightly in the millimeter & sub-millimeter part of the spectrum.
Light at these wavelengths comes from vast cold clouds in the interstellar space,at temperatures only a few tens of degree above absolute zero,and from some of the earliest & most distant galaxies in the universe.Astronomers can use it to study the chemical & physical conditions in molecular clouds-the dense regions of gas & dust where new stars being born.Often these regions of the universe are dark and obscured in the visible light,but they shine brightly in the millimeter & sub-millimeter part of the spectrum.
E-ELT-->European Extra Large Telescope
E-ELT is a planned ground based extreme large telescope for the optical/near-infrared range.It's reflecting telescope with 39.3m diameter primary mirror and 4.2m secondary.They will vastly advance astrophysical knowledge,allowing detailed studies of subjects including planets around other stars,the first objects in the universe Super-massive black holes,and the nature & distribution of the dark energy which dominate the Universe.