Hobbies And Interests
History
Galileo was the first astronomer to use a telescope for astronomy. He improved on the telescope, turned it to the sky, and turned astronomy on its head. He discovered Jupiter's moons and tracked their orbits. He saw plains, craters, and mountains on the moon; he noticed that Venus had phases. In the 19th century, spectroscopes were used to study starlight. The 20th century saw introduction of equipment designed to measure radio waves.
Significance
Astronomer curiosity ultimately pushed humans into space. For example, astronomers in the late 19th century speculated on what the Martian surface looked like. Unmanned Mars expeditions satisfied that curiosity; the general public has seen panoramic pictures of Mars' surface. Scientists have computer models of what Venus' surface looks like. They've used satellites, and computer analysis, to gather enough data to suspect oceans on two of Jupiter's moons. Thanks to these tools, people understand things today that their ancestors could only wonder about.
Types
Telescopes provide details on the moon and the planets that the naked eyes miss. Radar equipped satellites help scientists "see" a planet's surface despite its clouds. Spectrometers help astronomers determine temperatures on other stars while radio telescopes listen to the planets. Infrared equipment helped people discover Sagittarius Galaxy, a dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. Satellites can obtain astronomy data, and feed it to supercomputers, which organize data for human analysis. Special solar filters help people watch as Venus or Mercury transit the Sun's disk; they also help people watch solar eclipses. Mathematics and physics help astronomers discover planets orbiting the stars.
Misconceptions
Many people believe that astronomers discovered everything that exists in the Solar System. But they study a small area in the sky; if they want to get more details, they study a smaller area of the sky and "zoom" in. Different people using the same observatories point its telescope to different parts of the sky. This is one reason Pluto was discovered long after the technology needed to discover it became available. It's possible that a meteor wouldn't be discovered until it becomes obvious, and demands telescope attention.
Benefits
Satellites and space exploration are an extension of the astronomer's tools. Technologies that went into space exploration have found uses on earth. A woman getting her mammogram done can thank NASA imaging technologies for thorough internal breast pictures. NASA solar cell technology contributes to protecting this same woman from radiation while going through her examination. Other examples include portable dental equipment, modern equipment used for measuring body temperature, equipment for precision brain surgeries, and clothing that make up for people's not being able to sweat.