Visible-light astronomy
astronomical observation via telescopes using visible light
Visible-light astronomy encompasses a wide variety of astronomical observation via telescopes that are sensitive in the range of visible light (optical telescopes). Visible-light astronomy or optical astronomy differs from astronomies based on invisible types of light in the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, such as radio waves, infrared waves, ultraviolet waves, X-ray waves and gamma-ray waves. Visible light ranges from 380 to 750 nanometers in wavelength.
Visible-light astronomy has existed as long as people have been looking up at the night sky, although it has improved in its observational capabilities since the invention of the telescope. This is commonly credited to Hans Lippershey, a German-Dutch spectacle-maker, although Galileo Galilei played a large role in the development and creation of telescopes.
Since visible-light astronomy is restricted to only visible light, no equipment is necessary for simply star gazing. This makes it the most commonly participated in type of astronomy, as well as the oldest.
History
Beginning
Before the advent of telescopes, astronomy was limited solely to unaided eyesight. Humans have been gazing at stars and other objects in the night sky for thousands of years, as is evident in the naming of many constellations, notably the largely Greek names used today.
Hans Lippershey, a German-Dutch spectacle maker, is commonly credited as being the first to invent the optical telescope.
The public source identifies “Visible-light astronomy” as astronomical observation via telescopes using visible light. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Visible-light, astronomy and astronomical.
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This entry incorporates text from “Visible-light astronomy” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.