Astronomy Astronomy Telescopes and Instruments 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What instrument is used to measure the precise positions and proper motions of stars?
- Astrograph (Correct answer)
- Photometer
- Spectrometer
- Coronagraph
Correct answer: Astrograph
An astrograph is a telescope designed specifically for precise positional measurements of stars, including their proper motions across the sky.
Question 2: What does the Chandra X-ray Observatory primarily detect?
- X-rays from hot gas and energetic phenomena (Correct answer)
- Infrared radiation from cool objects
- Ultraviolet light from young stars
- Visible light from distant galaxies
Correct answer: X-rays from hot gas and energetic phenomena
Chandra detects X-rays emitted by extremely hot gas around black holes, supernovae remnants, and galaxy clusters.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a coronagraph in a telescope?
- Block the bright light of a star to observe nearby faint objects (Correct answer)
- Measure the polarization of light from stars
- Amplify the signal of distant radio sources
- Detect gravitational waves from merging black holes
Correct answer: Block the bright light of a star to observe nearby faint objects
A coronagraph blocks the central bright light of a star, allowing astronomers to observe nearby faint objects like exoplanets or the solar corona.
Question 4: What does the acronym 'CCD' stand for in astronomical imaging?
- Charge-Coupled Device (Correct answer)
- Cosmic Capture Detector
- Chromatic Contrast Device
- Calibrated Camera Disk
Correct answer: Charge-Coupled Device
CCD stands for Charge-Coupled Device, a highly sensitive electronic image sensor that has largely replaced photographic film in modern astronomy.
Question 5: What is stellar interferometry used to measure?
- The angular diameters of distant stars (Correct answer)
- The mass of binary star systems
- The chemical composition of stellar atmospheres
- The rotation rates of pulsars
Correct answer: The angular diameters of distant stars
Stellar interferometry combines light from multiple telescope apertures to measure the angular diameters of stars too small to resolve with a single telescope.
Question 6: Which space telescope is specifically designed to detect gravitational waves?
- LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) (Correct answer)
- Fermi Gamma-ray
- Euclid
- Roman Space Telescope
Correct answer: LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna)
LISA is a planned ESA mission that will detect gravitational waves in space using laser interferometry between three spacecraft separated by millions of kilometers.
Astronomy Astronomy Telescopes and Instruments 2
What instrument is used to measure the precise positions and proper motions of stars?