Advantages of large diameter telescopes (A-level only)
x

Diffraction sets the limit

Diffraction sets the limit

Airy disc patterns for not resolved, just resolved, and well-resolved stars, with central maxima, first minima, and angular separation labelled Light passing through a circular telescope aperture diffracts, so a point star forms an Airy disc rather than a perfect point. Two nearby stars can only be separated if their diffraction patterns do not overlap too much.

Advantages of large diameter telescopes (A-level only) Lesson

  1. A Level
  2. /Physics
  3. /Advantages of large diameter telescopes (A-level only)