The thick layer of gas that is in our atmosphere blocks most of the electromagnetic radiation that reaches our planet from astronomical sources, including gamma rays, X-rays, far-ultraviolet light, and far-infrared light. Atmospheric disturbances such as wind, rain, and snow, also block the view of space. Thus, space telescopes can take much clearer pictures than can be taken from Earth; they can collect light that simply does not reach the surface of Earth.