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Angular Resolution Formula:
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Angular resolution describes the ability of any image-forming device to distinguish small details of an object. In optics and astronomy, it's a key factor in determining how much detail a telescope can resolve.
The calculator uses the angular resolution formula:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that resolution improves (θ gets smaller) with larger apertures and shorter wavelengths.
Details: Angular resolution is crucial in telescope design, microscopy, photography, and any field where fine detail needs to be distinguished. It determines how close two point sources can be while still being distinguishable.
Tips: Enter the wavelength of light in meters and the aperture diameter in meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The result is given in radians and arcseconds (1 radian = 206265 arcseconds).
Q1: Why is there a 1.22 factor in the formula?
A: The 1.22 factor comes from the Rayleigh criterion for circular apertures, accounting for the diffraction pattern of a circular opening.
Q2: How does wavelength affect resolution?
A: Shorter wavelengths (like blue light) provide better resolution than longer wavelengths (like red light) for the same aperture size.
Q3: What's a typical angular resolution for telescopes?
A: The Hubble Space Telescope has about 0.05 arcseconds resolution. Large ground-based telescopes can achieve 0.01 arcseconds with adaptive optics.
Q4: Can angular resolution be better than the diffraction limit?
A: Normally no, but techniques like interferometry can effectively create larger apertures, improving resolution.
Q5: How does this relate to human eye resolution?
A: The human eye has an angular resolution of about 1 arcminute (60 arcseconds), much coarser than most telescopes.