An astronomer is studying galaxies of stars that are very far away and thus look extremely faint (using visible light). What kind of telescope should she and her graduate students apply for time on?
A) a refractor
B) the telescope with the biggest aperture possible
C) a telescope with a small aperture but with eyepieces that have good magnification
D) a telescope built before 1948
E) any telescope will show faint galaxies well; they should just use the one closest to their campus

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The astronomer needs a telescope with the biggest aperture possible because faint galaxies are extremely far away and thus emit very little light. A larger aperture allows more light to be gathered, making faint objects appear brighter and easier to study. Magnification doesn't matter as much as aperture, and the age of the telescope is irrelevant as long as it is well-maintained and has modern instrumentation.

An Astronomer Is Studying Galaxies of Stars That Are Very