What type of wavelengths do radio telescopes primarily detect?

Radio telescopes primarily detect large wavelengths, which correspond to radio waves within the electromagnetic spectrum. These large wavelengths typically range from about one meter to thousands of meters long, making them significantly longer than those of visible light or other types of electromagnetic radiation.

This capability allows radio telescopes to observe various cosmic phenomena such as pulsars, quasars, and the cosmic microwave background radiation. The collection of waves with such long wavelengths provides a unique perspective on astronomical objects that might not be visible with optical telescopes, which are limited to shorter wavelengths in the visible spectrum.

In contrast, short wavelengths usually pertain to ultraviolet, X-ray, or gamma-ray emissions, which are detectable by different types of telescopes designed for those specific ranges. High-frequency waves relate to shorter wavelengths and are not what radio telescopes focus on; instead, radio telescopes are geared towards the lower frequency, longer wavelength part of the spectrum. Similarly, visible light waves are outside the primary detection capability of radio telescopes, which specialize in capturing the electromagnetic radiation emitted by objects in the universe at radio frequencies.