Why do professional telescopes benefit from being situated on mountaintop observatories regarding viewing conditions?
Answer
To gain a cleaner, less extincted view above dense, turbulent air layers
Mountaintop observatories are strategically placed high above the ground primarily to place the telescope above a substantial portion of the Earth's dense, turbulent atmosphere. By achieving this altitude, the telescope minimizes exposure to the thickest air layers where extinction and atmospheric turbulence (seeing) are most pronounced. This positioning grants a cleaner optical path, allowing astronomers to gather light with less dimming and distortion, which is crucial for resolving the true density of the star field.
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