Meaning of optical astronomy | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Astronomy using observations using telescopes and recording media that capture visible light.
   informal, uncountable
2. Astronomy using infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet wavelengths.
   uncountable

Examples

“Radio astronomy is an extension of optical astronomy in that it allows the observer to "see⟳ radiations of wave⟳ lengths far greater than those of visible light⟳”

“Merely finding them in the first place⟳ — detecting their radio voices and photographing their odd and telltale light⟳ — was a cooperative triumph of radio and optical astronomy.”

“Since for the atmospheric windows in the NIR one normally uses the same telescopes as for optical astronomy, we will thus not distinguish between these”

“Because each kind of light⟳ reveals different natural phenomena, we see⟳ only a part of nature. The same is true of telescopes. Optical telescopes detect⟳ only visible light⟳. ... Dust is the bane of optical astronomy.”

CEFR level