optical astronomy

American  

noun

1. the branch of observational astronomy using telescopes to observe or photograph celestial objects in visible light.

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Other Word Forms

• optical astronomer noun

Etymology

Origin of optical astronomy

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan has argued his fleet, which would pale in comparison with the tens of thousands of planned Starlink crafts, won’t interfere with optical astronomy.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 13, 2022

Europe, in contrast, took the lead over the U.S. in ground-based optical astronomy years ago and is well into construction of an ELT of its own in Chile.

From Scientific American • Aug. 18, 2021

This sky region was subsequently observed by optical astronomy facilities7, resulting in the identification8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 of an optical transient signal within about ten arcseconds of the galaxy NGC 4993.

From Nature • Oct. 15, 2017

In the next decade, as radio and optical astronomy continued their fruitful alliance, about 100 additional galaxies and supernovas were recognized as powerful radio transmitters.

From Time Magazine Archive

The exceedingly high magnifying powers employed by Herschel constituted a novelty in optical astronomy, to which he attached great importance.

From A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century Fourth Edition by Clerke, Agnes M. (Agnes Mary)