Why do space telescopes take clearer pictures than telescopes on earth?

Answer 1

Earth's atmosphere affects the pictures taken by telescopes on Earth.

Answer 2

You could take pictures similar to (though much less detailed than) the Hubble's with a backyard telescope and a CCD camera. Check out the pictures in "Astronomy" or "Sky & Telescope" to see what amateur astronomers can do. There is considerable computer processing involved in producing astro photos, whether from Hubble or an amateur scope, but there is no speculation or simulation involved. However, astro cameras can see a broader spectrum of light than we do, so there is a certain amount of remapping of that spectrum to the visible. This means that even up close, you wouldn't see the colors that the photos show. For example, the red color that dominates many nebulae is in a wavelength that our eyes are not very sensitive to. But it is emphasized in many astrophotos because it is the color emitted by glowing hydrogen. Astro cameras don't take photographs in the normal color range that regular cameras do. Instead, they take a series of exposures through a variety of colored filters, some of which may emphasize infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths that we can't see. The astronomers then combine these different exposures to make a color image. The colors of nebula photos are usually selected to emphasize the spectral emissions of the various gasses, rather than to represent what your eye would see. Planetary photos, on the other hand, are often processed to approximate "natural" color, though there is often a bit of contrast enhancement thrown in. One of the advantages that the Hubble telescope has is that it can see wavelengths of infrared that are blocked by Earth's atmosphere. The Webb telescope that is planned to replace Hubble will be designed to work mostly in the infrared, in large part so that it can see the strongly red-shifted emissions from very distant (and therefore very early) galaxies.

Answer 3

The earth's atmosphere interferes with and distorts the light we see from stars and other space objects. By going out of the atmosphere that deflection of light does not happen and the telescope sees better and further.

Answer 4

Thats easy..because the telescopes in space are IN SPACE and the telescopes on earth are farther away...

Answer 5

Earthbound telescopes are limited by the light's having to get through the atmosphere to reach them. Weather is a complication (clouds). As development approaches the remote locations of some telescopes, electric night lights "drown out" fainter light from stars. For telescopes that need light or other electromagnetic radiation than visible, the oxygen and nitrogen ofthe air can absorb certain wavelengths.

Answer 6

because space telescopes are a lot closer to the object and because the picture on earth can be diluted because of the pollution

Answer 7

Cuz on Earth there is always this guy jumping in front, saying Hi Mom!

Atmospheric particles, light pollution, moisture, and temperature layers, all cause distortion on Earth. Also there is some new equipment for non-visable light wavelengths that works best near absolute zero.

That said, there is now some fantastic technology that corrects for most Earth-based problems some good work is done on Earth too.

Answer 8

Because space telescopes do not have to look through the atmosphere.

Answer 9

Telescopes on earth are effected by light pollution . You wont have that problem in outer space.

Answer 10

well when we have a look on the heavenly bodies from earth they give a blurred image. this is due large number of refractions that light waves take during their course to reach the earth due to earths' such dense atmosphere.
u are well aware that there is vaccuum in outer space . so least or no refraction whatsoever takes place in space which ultimately give quite clear , bright , and well contrasted images far better than that from earth
this is the only reason why NASA sends so much probes to have a close look over universe

Answer 11

because earths atmosphere distorts the vision of the telescope