Angular Resolution of Telescopes at 500nm: Formula & Explanation

[oldspice1212]

Technological advances are now making it possible to link visible-light telescopes so that they can achieve the same angular resolution as a single telescope over 300 meters in size.

What is the angular resolution (diffraction limit) of such a system of telescopes for observations at a wavelength of 500 nanometers?


I was wondering if anyone has an idea on what the angular resolution formula is, I know there is one but I can't recall it..and when it says 500 nm it's 5.00*10^-9 m right? Been a while since I've dealt with waves.

 

[lewando]

I was wondering if anyone has an idea on what the angular resolution formula is, I know there is one but I can't recall it..

Why struggle with recollection when you can "look it up"? Try your favorite search engine, wiki, etc.

and when it says 500 nm it's 5.00*10^-9 m right?

No, that would be 5nm. 1nm = 1*10^-9 m.

 

[oldspice1212]

^ Yeah sorry i meant -7 lol and I still can't figure it out, I need the diameter of the telescope or something... I think the formula is sin theta = 1.220 * wavelength/ diameter but I have no clue how to get the diameter?

 

[SteamKing]

How big was the single telescope? Hint: when you talk about the size of a telescope, you are talking about the diameter of the mirror which collects the incoming light.

 

[oldspice1212]

300m?

 

[oldspice1212]

nvm got it