by Ann » Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:50 am
Today is repeat day at APOD, and today's picture is from 2003. In my opinion, the most interesting thing about it is
this link, which not only provides a comparison between the Gemini telescope image of HCG 87 and the HST image of the same group, but also explains why we should bother with ground-based telescope images of deep space objects at all:
"Historically, the main advantage of large ground-based telescopes, like Gemini, is their ability to collect significantly more light for spectroscopy than is possible with a telescope in space," said Phil Puxley, Associate Director of the Gemini South Telescope. He explains, "The Hubble Space Telescope is able to do things that are impossible from the ground. However, ground-based telescopes like Gemini, when conditions are right, approach the quality of optical images now only possible from space. One key area - spectroscopy of faint objects, which requires large apertures and fine image quality - is where large telescopes like Gemini provide a powerful, complementary capability to space-based telescopes."
Ann
Today is repeat day at APOD, and today's picture is from 2003. In my opinion, the most interesting thing about it is [url=http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?q=node/104]this link[/url], which not only provides a comparison between the Gemini telescope image of HCG 87 and the HST image of the same group, but also explains why we should bother with ground-based telescope images of deep space objects at all:
[quote]"Historically, the main advantage of large ground-based telescopes, like Gemini, is their ability to collect significantly more light for spectroscopy than is possible with a telescope in space," said Phil Puxley, Associate Director of the Gemini South Telescope. He explains, "The Hubble Space Telescope is able to do things that are impossible from the ground. However, ground-based telescopes like Gemini, when conditions are right, approach the quality of optical images now only possible from space. One key area - spectroscopy of faint objects, which requires large apertures and fine image quality - is where large telescopes like Gemini provide a powerful, complementary capability to space-based telescopes."[/quote]
Ann