A very wealthy donor decides to give a large sum of money to your college or university to build the world's largest visible-light gathering telescope. From an astronomical perspective, where would be the best location to put such a telescope?
A) in a dark spot right on the campus
B) on the west coast of the U.S. very close to sea level (a location like Seattle, for example)
C) close to a large city where there are many astronomers to use it
D) on a tall, dry mountain peak
E) Bayonne, New Jersey

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best location for a visible-light gathering telescope would be on a tall, dry mountain peak. This is because higher altitudes mean less atmospheric distortion, and dry climates mean less interference from water vapor in the atmosphere. Additionally, being away from cities and other sources of light pollution would result in a clearer view of the skies.

A Very Wealthy Donor Decides to Give a Large Sum