What is the primary purpose of a space telescope?

The primary purpose of a space telescope is to observe astronomical objects without atmospheric interference. When telescopes are placed in space, they are positioned above Earth's atmosphere, which can distort or absorb light from celestial objects. This interference can limit the kinds of observations that ground-based telescopes can make. By bypassing the atmosphere, space telescopes can capture clearer and more detailed images across various wavelengths of light, including infrared and ultraviolet, that are often blocked or muddied by atmospheric conditions. This ability significantly enhances our understanding of the universe, allowing astronomers to conduct more accurate measurements and observations of distant galaxies, nebulae, stars, and other celestial phenomena.

The other options, while related to scientific observation, do not directly address the primary objective of space telescopes. Studying terrestrial weather patterns focuses on meteorology and Earth sciences, measuring distances between stars pertains to astrometry, and capturing satellite images of Earth relates more to earth observation than astronomical studies.