What is the purpose of a telescope gathering a much wider cone of light than the human eye?
Answer
Making the object appear brighter and allowing for higher magnification.
A large objective gathers a wider cone of faint light and concentrates it, which makes the object appear brighter and consequently allows for higher magnification without the image dissolving into darkness.

Related Questions
What is the core function defining a telescope?What hardware is highlighted in the classic description of how a telescope works?For faint, far-off objects, which function is arguably the most scientifically important?Which category of optical telescope primarily uses lenses?What physical attribute dictates the true power of an instrument related to light gathering?What does the term 'telescope,' derived from Greek roots, literally suggest?In the context of advanced professional astronomy, what action often replaces direct viewing through an eyepiece?What is the result of precisely shaping lenses or mirrors in an optical telescope?What is the purpose of a telescope gathering a much wider cone of light than the human eye?Which aspect is incorporated into the most complete single-sentence definition of a telescope?