1. (sometimes capital) new, recent, or a new or modern form or development: neoclassicism; neocolonialism. 2. (Geological Science) (usually capital) the most recent subdivision of a geological period: Neogene. [from Greek neos new]. Also, esp. before a vowel, ne-.
Although optical telescopes are the type most commonly used for stargazing and amateur astronomy, lots of astronomical research is done on telescopes that look at other wavelengths of light. Each of these wavelength ranges shows us something unique about the universe and allows us to view events and objects that can't be seen with human eyes.
Think of what limitations are put on us by the restrictions of our own eyesight: things too far away, or too small, are beyond our ability to observe without some sort of devices to help. Just as the telescope was a critical device for astronomers, the microscope was critical to the progress of biology. Although magnifying spectacles (glasses, sort of) have been in widespread use since the 1300's, the use of lenses to see very tiny objects was a slowly-developing technology.