In terms of astronomy what is an “optical window”?

Question: In terms of astronomy what is an "optical window"?
- Keywords:
  astronomy,
  definition,
  optical window
Asked by spacenut1982 to Christina, Colin, Jess, Samaneh, Steve on 22 Jun 2013.
- Steven Gardner answered on 22 Jun 2013:
  
  The optical window is the range of light wavelengths that can get through our atmosphere. Some types of light are blocked by the atmosphere, the optical window is the range that we can see.
  
  The atmosphere interfering with the light from stars is part of the reason why scientists like to put telescopes into orbit, so the light isn’t affected by the air.

spacenut1982 commented on 22 Jun 2013:

Oh yeah! So if its not in the optical window we can’t see it?

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- Steve commented on 24 Jun 2013:
  
  Not from the ground no.
  
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Question: In terms of astronomy what is an "optical window"?