What type of instruments are used for visualizing cells at different resolutions?

Microscopes are the instruments specifically designed to visualize cells and other small structures at varying levels of resolution. They come in several types, such as light microscopes, which utilize visible light to magnify samples, and electron microscopes, which provide much higher resolutions by using electron beams. This capability allows scientists to observe intricate cell structures and processes that cannot be seen with the naked eye or with lower-resolution instruments.

Other instruments mentioned, such as telescopes, are intended for observing distant astronomical objects rather than microscopic structures. Scanners are typically used for digitizing images or documents and do not provide the magnification required for cellular visualization. Photodetectors are devices that sense light and can be part of some imaging systems but do not serve the primary function of magnifying specimens. Thus, microscopes stand out as the essential tools for studying cellular details in biological research.