Astronomical instrument

Astronomical instruments are devices for direct observation of celestial bodies using the radiation emitted by them. This also includes instruments that are used to measure diffuse radiation from space or to evaluate observational data obtained.

In the early astronomy were freiäugig used instruments primarily for directional measurement (visors, protractor or shade rods), which in the 17th century by telescopes were refined. From around 1850 instruments for photographic recordings and for astrophysics were added, and from the 1940s instruments for radio astronomy .

Today there are instruments available for all radiation areas as well as space telescopes , whereby the following elements are common to practically all astronomical instruments:

• The radiation is first collected. Systems made up of lenses and / or mirrors ( lens and reflector telescope , astrograph , etc.) are used for this in the optical (and neighboring) radiation range , large antenna systems ( radio telescope ) in the radio wave range , and special telescopes or detectors ( X-ray astronomy , gamma astronomy , ultraviolet astronomy , Infrared astronomy ).

• The radiation is fed to an analyzer (optical or electronic filters, spectographs, etc.).

• A radiation receiver registers the radiation. Serve as a receiver (in addition to the eye for direct observation with an astronomical instrument) and a. Photo plates , photocells , thermocouples , bolometers , CCD photo sensors and radio wave receivers. The collecting system and the radiation receiver are usually using a special mounting set to a certain point of the celestial sphere and ground-based observations of the apparent daily motion of the stars tracked . With space telescopes, the stabilization is also carried out gravitationally or with gyroscopic instruments .

See also

• Observational Astronomy
• Observator
• Observatory
• Instrument failure

Literature and web links

• Helmut Zimmermann and Alfred Weigert : Lexicon of Astronomy, 8th edition. Spektrum-Verlag, Heidelberg 1999, ISBN 3-8274-0575-0
• 

  Commons : Astronomical Instruments  - collection of images, videos and audio files