Can A Telescope See Through Clouds?

Fond of the clouds? Wondering, ‘can a telescope see through clouds?’ Let’s find the answer to this question!

Telescopes have been around to help people who want to explore the universe. Various models allow the user to see different parts of it. However, plenty of obstacles can stop you from exploring outside the planet, such as clouds. Aside from clouds, other obstacles such as buildings can also prevent things from happening. This causes one to wonder if telescope operators can see through them.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, telescopes would not be able to see through clouds. This is because they only receive light, which is similar to the light from the human eye. But we do not have to worry, since clouds can obstruct the view of the stars, it does not mean that people can not still see their favorite ones. There are various ways that one can still enjoy the night sky without disturbing by the clouds.

Why Can’t You See Through The Clouds?

The clouds in the sky can be affected by the weather patterns, which is why it is crucial to monitor the weather to see if it will affect the number of stars in the sky. It is a very important task for people to keep an eye on the weather to make sure that they do not get caught off-guard when it comes to astronomy. Having a well-informed mind about the weather can help prevent any issues from happening.

The cloud’s presence in the sky can affect how populated the sky will be. A hot climate can cause the clouds to become thick enough to block the telescope’s view. Sometimes, there can also be stratus clouds formed when a warm front hits the ground. In fact, these tend to last for a long time and can cover a vast portion of the sky.

Although the sky is starting to disperse, it still remains hazy, making it hard to see clearly when looking at cosmic objects. Also, the clouds make it difficult to keep track of the celestial objects in view.

On the other hand, the light that we see is reflected from the objects we see. For instance, a cloud composed of millions of water droplets is made up of light that refracts as it hits a boundary. As the light goes through the clouds, it will bend millions of times before reaching its destination. The rays will then appear at random places along the way.

What Does Cloud Make Of?

This is one of the questions that we are pretty sure we know the answer to. But, if you want to improve your cloud’s accuracy, then this is the question for you.

The clouds’ formation is caused by the invisible gas water vapor. When water vapor forms clouds, it turns into liquid droplets. These droplets then form on the particles in the air. Although clouds contain water vapor, they are not precisely made of water. Instead, the water vapor in the air around us is in liquid or ice form. When the water vapor cools, it forms ice crystals or liquid water droplets.

There are things about clouds that you need to know to understand fully. In fact, these particles are invisible to the human eye, but they are part of the air that contains water vapor. In addition, the air around us contains dust particles. The colder the atmosphere gets, the more gas it produces. If you make enough gas cold enough, it will become a liquid. However, if you boil water, the vapor will turn to gas as it gets hotter.

We can also work out how clouds form by studying the four basic atmosphere elements. One of these is water vapor, which rises in the air and becomes liquid water. The water in the air begins to collect on the dust particles in the air, which then turn into larger droplets. These clouds can be seen as a result of the interactions between the water and the aerosols.

For instance, When vapor moves toward a hill front, it may be pushed upwards by the cooler air around it. This causes the gassy vapor to rise, and it cools into droplets that stick to the aerosols in the air. Sometimes, rain occurs when the large drops of water become too heavy to cling to the floating aerosols.

What Type Of Telescope Can See Through The Clouds?

Can a telescope see through clouds? Yes, but only a radio telescope. It is an astronomical device that can be used to observe the cosmic bodies in the universe. It can detect radio waves emitted by extraterrestrials. Radio telescopes do not actually see, but they detect radio waves and are also not affected even by thick clouds.

Astronomers can detect and interpret radio waves coming from space through radio telescopes. These signals help them understand what was happening outside the universe.

Read also: Can You Use a Telescope Through a Window?

What Can You Do On A Cloudy Night?

If you have a difficult time planning your next stargazing trip due to the clouds in the sky, there are still a few things that you can do to make sure that you are still able to enjoy the experience.

1.   Plan to observe the night.

Knowing what to expect from the sky is also very important to plan a successful night of observation. You can also buy a star chart and an astronomy book to help you plan your next stargazing event.

2.   Join a social media stargazing community.

There is nothing better than sharing your experiences and knowledge with people who have similar interests. Social media groups and online forums are a great way to connect with like-minded individuals.

3.   Make the image of your astrophotography.

Take advantage of the night’s sky by processing the images that you have taken of celestial bodies. Then, you can enhance the quality of your photos once the sky clears up.

4.   Use the time to spend with your family.

Aside from being able to enjoy the beautiful night sky, spending quality time with your family is also an excellent way to improve your stargazing skills.

Weather Fronts

A weather front is a powerful weather phenomenon that can affect the weather over the next couple of hours, which is visible to the sky through the formation of clouds. You can spot these by looking at the sky with the use of radio telescopes.

Warm front

In fact, the warm air does not mix with the cold air, forming a wedge shape. This phenomenon occurs because the warm air is less dense than the cold air. As the air rises, the gases in the vapor cool and become liquid water, which then forms clouds. Using a radio telescope lets you see cirrus clouds overhead during a warm front.

Cold Front

The warm air in the sky forms a scooping mechanism when a cold wall of air moves into it. However, if the sky is full of stratus clouds, it is hard to tell if a cold front is coming in. As the cold front passes, it is going to bring with it a lot of rain. This will cause the existing clouds to rise, which will then transform them into powerful storm clouds. So, in a cold front, you can see storm clouds using a radio telescope.

Read also: 10 Best telescope for beginners – Chase the Stars Without Breaking the Bank

Conclusion

Basically, it is well-known that optical telescopes are sensitive to weather conditions. They can be affected by wind or other turbulence, which can cause their viewing capacity to be reduced.

Since clouds are known to block the view of the sky at night, amateur astronomers need to find a place with no clouds. However, some telescopes can help by detecting radio waves.

Generally, with the right timing and weather, you can have a real view of the clouds, of course, by using telescopes – particularly radio telescopes. If you have one, then enjoy your cloud-viewing!