Telescopes have transformed our understanding of the universe, allowing us to examine it in unprecedented depth. Astronomers and engineers have constructed more powerful telescopes throughout the years, with the most advanced instruments capable of detecting objects and phenomena billions of light years away. Here are some of the world's most powerful telescopes:
The Hubble Space Telescope: Since its launch in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has become one of history's most iconic and important telescopes. The Hubble Space Telescope, which orbits roughly 550 kilometers above Earth, has a 2.4-meter primary mirror and a suite of powerful equipment that allow it to examine the universe throughout a wide range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to near-infrared. Its breathtaking photographs have contributed to a greater understanding of the universe, revealing everything from faraway galaxies to the birth and death of stars.
The W. M. Keck Observatory: Located in Hawaii, the W. M. Keck Observatory houses two of the world's largest optical and infrared telescopes. Each telescope features a 10 meter-diameter primary mirror, making it one of the most powerful ground-based telescopes ever built. Exoplanets and black holes, as well as distant galaxies and cosmic microwave background radiation, have all been studied using the Keck Observatory.
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a cluster of 66 radio telescopes that work together as a single instrument in Chile's high desert. The ALMA radio telescope, with a total collecting area of approximately 6,000 square meters, is the world's most powerful radio telescope, capable of seeing the universe at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. Because of its unique characteristics, astronomers have been able to examine the development of galaxies, the birth of stars, and the composition of the early cosmos.
The James Webb Space Telescope: The James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in late 2021, is one of the most widely anticipated telescopes in history. The James Webb Space Telescope will be the largest space telescope ever built, with a primary mirror measuring 6.5 meters in diameter. It will function at infrared wavelengths, allowing it to peek through dust and gas clouds to study the early cosmos, galaxy formation, and exoplanet atmospheres.
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT): Currently under construction on Mauna Kea's summit in Hawaii, the TMT will be one of the world's largest and most powerful optical telescopes. The TMT will have ten times the light-collecting power of the Keck Observatory, thanks to a primary mirror 30 metres in diameter. Its powerful adaptive optics systems will also enable it to create images ten times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope.
These are just a few of the most powerful telescopes in the world. With new technologies and instruments under development, the future of astronomy looks brighter than ever before. By peering deeper into the cosmos, astronomers will continue to unravel the mysteries of the universe, shedding light on everything from the nature of dark matter to the search for life beyond Earth.
