A space telescope is an astronomical instrument placed in space to observe distant objects like stars, planets, galaxies, and other celestial phenomena. Unlike ground-based telescopes, which are affected by Earth’s atmosphere, space telescopes can avoid these distortions, providing clearer, sharper, and more accurate observations of the universe.
One of the most famous space telescopes is the Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, which has captured stunning images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and stars. Other examples include the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which was launched in December 2021, designed to observe the universe in infrared light, helping scientists study objects far beyond what Hubble could see.
By being positioned in space, these telescopes can also observe parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (like ultraviolet and infrared) that Earth’s atmosphere blocks, which is crucial for understanding the universe in greater detail.