# Introduction

The purpose of astronomical images is straightforward: by recording images of particular regions of the sky, we can identify what objects are out there in the Universe and where they are located. Imaging the Universe enables us to understand its structure and contents. Images provide a wider context within which astronomers can use tools like spectroscopy to investigate the detailed physics and chemistry of individual objects.

In this course, you will explore how astronomers use images to measure the properties of stars and galaxies. You will also examine different types of images used by astronomers, from detailed images of the structure of a nearby star cluster to maps of the entire northern sky, and from visible light to images in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course S284 Astronomy.

OpenLearn - Astronomy: images of the Universe
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