List of Space Telescopes - Visible

Visible

Further information: Visible-light astronomy

The oldest form of astronomy, optical or visible-light astronomy extends from approximately 400 to 700 nm. Positioning an optical telescope in space means that the telescope does not see any atmospheric effects (see astronomical seeing), providing higher resolution images. Optical telescopes are used to look at stars, galaxies, planetary nebulae and protoplanetary disks, amongst many other things.

  • The Hubble Space Telescope

  • The Kepler Spacecraft Mission

Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
COROT CNES & ESA 27 December 2006 Earth orbit (872–884 km)
Hipparcos ESA 8 August 1989 March 1993 Earth orbit (223–35,632 km)
Hubble Space Telescope NASA 24 April 1990 Earth orbit (586.47–610.44 km)
Kepler Mission NASA 6 March 2009 Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit
MOST CSA 30 June 2003 Earth orbit (819–832 km)
Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer NASA 20 November 2004 Earth orbit (585–604 km)

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Famous quotes containing the word visible:

    Being a parent is unlike any previous job—the results of any one action are not clearly visible for a long time, if at all.
    —Anonymous Mother. As quoted in Between Generations by Ellen Galinsky, ch. 2 (1981)

    When we consider the vast distance of the known and visible parts of the world, and the reasons we have to think, that what lies within our ken is but a small part of the universe, we shall then discover an huge abyss of ignorance.
    John Locke (1632–1704)

    Food probably has a very great influence on the condition of men. Wine exercises a more visible influence, food does it more slowly but perhaps just as surely. Who knows if a well-prepared soup was not responsible for the pneumatic pump or a poor one for a war?
    —G.C. (Georg Christoph)