How do telescopes work?

Telescopes work by collecting and focusing light from distant objects, allowing us to see them more clearly than with the naked eye. The main purpose of a telescope is to gather as much light as possible and then magnify the image so that faint or small objects, such as stars, planets, and galaxies, become visible and detailed. There are two primary types of telescopes: refracting and reflecting. Refracting telescopes use lenses to bend (refract) light and bring it to a focus, while reflecting telescopes use mirrors to reflect and concentrate the light. In both cases, the collected light is focused to form an image, which is then magnified by an eyepiece or a camera. By increasing the amount of light collected, telescopes can reveal objects that are far too dim or distant to be seen by the unaided eye. Additionally, telescopes improve resolution, meaning they can distinguish between objects that are very close together in the sky. This allows astronomers to study fine details of celestial bodies. Modern telescopes can also be designed to observe not just visible light, but other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum such as radio waves, infrared, or X-rays, providing a more complete understanding of the universe.