The atmosphere tends to block many of those frequencies.
(It's not so much dry, it's as high as possible.)
Telescopes can be made to see in almost any part of the electromagnetic spectrum: visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, or radio waves. The largest telescopes are those for radio waves - in Arecibo there is one with a diameter of 300 meters. I am not sure whether it is the largest, though.
Optical measures visible light, Radio measures electromagnetic radiation in that part of the spectrum corresponding to radio waves. Same with X-ray telescopes and x-rays. Optical is the kind you look through.
Do you mean the Chandra X-ray observatory? Chandra does not operate in the gamma ray wavelengths, it typically can observe light in the "soft" X-ray wavelengths (from about 10 to .10 nm). Gamma rays generally have wavelengths of .001 nm or smaller. Earth's atmosphere actually absorbs most X-rays, so in order to see at that wavelength, a space telescope was needed. Also, X-rays and gamma rays are so energetic that they cannot be gathered by normal means such as a curved optical mirror used in most "optical" telescopes (for visible wavelengths and even some infrared/ultraviolet imaging). X-ray light will pass right through these kinds of mirrors. Chandra uses a series of concentric parabolic mirrors that slightly deflect the paths of x-ray photons towards a detector. Here are some images to compare optical mirrors to Chandra's mirrors. wisconsinastronomy.org/images/scopes/NewtCut_m.jpg spie.org/Images/Graphics/Newsroom/Imported/11_243_0_2006-01-17/11_fig2.jpg Hope this helps.
Astronomers use telescopes on Earth to collect and analyze light from celestial objects, which allows them to study their properties, such as composition, distance, and motion. By employing various types of telescopes—optical, radio, and infrared—they can observe different wavelengths of light, revealing information that might not be visible to the naked eye. Advanced imaging and spectroscopy techniques enable astronomers to resolve complex problems, such as mapping star formation in galaxies or detecting exoplanets. Additionally, ground-based telescopes are often equipped with adaptive optics to compensate for atmospheric distortions, enhancing the clarity and detail of observations.
An "optical" telescope would naturally collect light from optical wavelengths, meaning visible light from ~400-800nm.
Telescopes that collect electromagnetic radiation in shorter wavelengths, such as ultraviolet or X-rays, need to be placed in dry areas or outside the atmosphere because water vapor and other gases in the atmosphere can absorb or scatter such high-energy radiation, affecting the observations. Placing these telescopes in dry areas or above the atmosphere helps ensure that they can collect unimpeded data in these wavelengths.
Certain types of electromagnetic radiation, particularly gamma rays and most ultraviolet radiation, cannot be effectively detected by telescopes on Earth because they are absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. This absorption prevents these high-energy photons from reaching the surface. To observe these wavelengths, scientists use space-based telescopes, which operate above the atmosphere.
To detect different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Some telescopes are placed in space to avoid the Earth's atmosphere, which can distort and absorb light from celestial objects. Atmospheric interference can blur images and limit the wavelengths of light that reach the ground. By positioning telescopes in space, astronomers can obtain clearer, more detailed observations across a broader range of wavelengths, including ultraviolet and infrared, which are blocked by the atmosphere. This enables more accurate studies of the universe and its phenomena.
Mountaintops are ideal for near-infrared telescopes because the high altitude reduces atmospheric interference and light pollution. Ultraviolet telescopes are placed in Earth orbit to avoid absorption of ultraviolet light by Earth's atmosphere, which allows for clearer observations of objects emitting in the ultraviolet spectrum.
Radio telescopes, refracting telescopes, and reflecting telescopes all use mirrors or lenses to collect and focus incoming electromagnetic radiation. The main difference is the wavelength of the radiation they are designed to study – radio telescopes focus on radio waves, refracting telescopes focus on visible light, and reflecting telescopes focus on a variety of wavelengths including visible light, ultraviolet, and infrared.
Telescopes for invisible electromagnetic radiation (EMR) are specialized instruments designed to observe wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, such as radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. These telescopes utilize various technologies, such as radio antennas or specialized detectors, to capture and analyze the corresponding EMR. By studying these wavelengths, astronomers can gather crucial information about celestial objects, their composition, temperature, and movements, which are not visible to the naked eye. Examples include radio telescopes, infrared observatories, and X-ray space telescopes.
Telescopes collect and focus electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light or radio waves, to create images of objects in space. Different telescopes are designed to detect specific wavelengths of radiation to study various astronomical phenomena, from stars and planets to galaxies and black holes.
Current telescopes detect different wavelengths of "light," which, in general, is called electromagnetic radiation. Earth's atmosphere is transparent to infrared radiation - it can easily transmit though our atmosphere. Therefore we can easily detect it from within Earth's atmosphere. However, X-Rays do not easily transmit through the Earth's atmosphere, so we must place our X-Ray detectors OUTSIDE of our atmosphere, ie. in orbit around the earth.
Radio telescopes and infra-red telescopes operate at longer wavelengths/lower frequencies than visible light. Ultraviolet telescopes operate at shorter wavelengths/higher frequencies than visible light.
Telescopes can be designed to detect various wavelengths and frequencies of light, not just visible light. Different types of telescopes, such as radio telescopes and X-ray telescopes, are specialized to observe different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum beyond visible light. By focusing on specific wavelengths and frequencies, telescopes can provide valuable information about celestial objects and phenomena.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a prominent instrument capable of detecting ultraviolet light. It operates above the Earth's atmosphere, which absorbs much of the ultraviolet spectrum, allowing it to capture high-resolution images and data in UV wavelengths. Other telescopes, such as the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, also have capabilities to observe in the ultraviolet range, expanding our understanding of cosmic phenomena.