It allows us to collect more light than we can with our eyes, thus gathering information we could not otherwise gather.
The Hubble Space Telescope has a number of instruments, but the primary one is an optical telescope.
"Optical", in this case, simply means that they work with light.
optical
Reflector.
See things that don't shine in the visible spectrum.
me
The surface of a radio telescope doesn't have to be as flawless as the surface of an optical telescope because the radio telescope is collecting radio waves, something that will not be affected by faults in the glass. Optical telescopes, on the other hand, are collecting light, where faults in the surface can interfere with the image.
Radio telescopes collect radio waves. Optical telescopes capture visible light waves.
you can get the optical components to repair an old telescope at http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=644695. Another site is www.Fixya.com/Telescope+Repair
Usually, by using your eye sight, optical telescope, or radio telescope.
the optical telescope has discovered objects on earth and in space
Example of an optical instrument? (not sample) Microscope.