Resolution of telescope¶

The resolution of the telescope is the minimum angular distance between point objects that can be distinguished separately in the telescope.

Links:

Wikipedia.

resolution¶: angular_resolution of the telescope.

Symbol:: theta
Latex:: \(\theta\)
Dimension:: angle

wavelength¶: wavelength of light.

Symbol:: lambda
Latex:: \(\lambda\)
Dimension:: length

lens_diameter¶: diameter of the lens.

Symbol:: D
Latex:: \(D\)
Dimension:: length

constant_rad¶: Constant factor \(\approx 1.22 \, \text{rad}\) derived from a calculation of the position of the first dark circular ring surrounding the central Airy disc of the diffraction pattern.

Symbol:: A
Latex:: \(A\)
Dimension:: dimensionless

law¶

theta = A * lambda / D

Latex:: \[\theta = A \frac{\lambda}{D}\]