What are the functions of an astronomical telescope?

The basic function of an astronomical telescope is to collect light from celestial bodies and image it. However, as a platform, its functional details and functional expansion are far more than this, which are briefly stated below.

1. The astronomical telescope is the carrying platform and front-end equipment for all observation instruments.

There are many instruments required for astronomical observation, such as spectrometers, interferometers, measuring instruments, various photography terminals, etc. The source of light for all of these instruments—the first step in processing light from the object being studied—is the astronomical telescope.

2. Astronomical telescopes can provide precise pointing and measuring standards.

The astronomical telescope has a stable and accurate base and pointing control system, which can provide precise pointing capabilities at the milliarcsecond level, and can also perform high-precision angular distance measurements through sky area imaging contrast and other means. These functions are commonly used in the study of celestial motions, but can also be extended to geodesy, plate drift research, and other fields.

3. The astronomical telescope can directly serve as the transmitting and receiving antenna of interplanetary lidar.

No more details about this, you can search for keywords such as "laser moon measurement".

The above is just a very general list of three application areas. In short, as long as you are engaged in experimental astronomy, you cannot do without astronomical telescopes. Of course, many astronomers do not have actual contact with telescopes and observatories, but the first-hand research data they obtain are all output from telescopes and observatories.