Question

the earth’s atmosphere is made of layers of gases that surround the planet. the atmosphere provides the air we breathe, protects the surface from harmful radiation, and helps regulate earth’s temperature. use the diagram below and information from your notes to explain why astronomers have telescopes in space and on earth’s surface. figure 1: electromagnetic radiation reaching earth’s surface (diagram shows x - rays, gamma rays, uv, visible, infrared, microwaves, radio with some blocked and some reaching earth’s surface)

Explanation:

1. Telescopes on Earth's Surface: From the diagram, visible light, some infrared, and radio waves reach the Earth's surface (not blocked by the atmosphere). Telescopes on the surface can detect these wavelengths. For example, optical telescopes (using visible light) and radio telescopes work well here as their respective radiation types penetrate the atmosphere to the surface. This is cost - effective and easier to maintain compared to space telescopes.
2. Telescopes in Space: The atmosphere blocks X - rays, gamma rays, most UV, and some infrared/microwaves. To observe these blocked wavelengths (e.g., X - ray telescopes to study high - energy celestial objects, UV telescopes to study star formation or planetary atmospheres), telescopes must be placed in space, above the atmosphere, to receive the full spectrum of electromagnetic radiation from celestial bodies.

Answer:

Astronomers use telescopes on Earth’s surface for wavelengths (visible light, some infrared, radio) that penetrate the atmosphere. Space telescopes are used for wavelengths (X - rays, gamma rays, most UV, some infrared/microwaves) blocked by the atmosphere, allowing observation of the full electromagnetic spectrum from celestial objects.