Telescopes allow astronomers to see objects too distant for the naked eye by providing closer views through lenses or mirrors. Lenses bend light in refracting telescopes while the largest telescopes use mirrors that reflect light in reflecting telescopes. Astronomers use large telescopes to study planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial objects that would otherwise be unknown without telescopes.

2. Telescopes
• Telescopes are used to see objects that
are too far to be seen with the naked eye.
• They also provide a closer view of distant
things.
• Astronomers use large telescopes to study
the planets, stars and other objects in
space.

3. DID YOU KNOW????
Without telescopes, we
would not know much about
celestial bodies!

4. LENSES OR
MIRRORS?

5. Telescopes with lenses are called
refracting telescopes. Lenses bend light.
The largest telescopes use mirrors
instead of lenses. Telescopes with mirrors
are called reflecting telescopes. Mirrors
reflect light.

6. PICTURE OF A
TELESCOPE
EYEPIECE
Lens to view the
image
FOCUS ADJUSTMENT
Move this to make the
image clearer

7. Big telescopes

8. Small telescopes

9. Galaxy

10. The milky way galaxy

11. The sun

12. Mercury

13. Venus

14. Earth

15. Mars

16. Jupiter

17. Saturn

18. Uranus

19. Neptune

20. PLUTO