Angular resolution
Optical or radio telescope, a microscope, a camera, or an eye, to distinguish small details of an object, thereby making it a major determinant of image resolution.
- Angular resolution213 related topics
Spatial resolution
In physics and geosciences, the term spatial resolution refers to the linear spacing of a measurement, or the physical dimension that represents a pixel of the image.
In physics and geosciences, the term spatial resolution refers to the linear spacing of a measurement, or the physical dimension that represents a pixel of the image.
While in some instruments, like cameras and telescopes, spatial resolution is directly connected to angular resolution, other instruments, like synthetic aperture radar or a network of weather stations, produce data whose spatial sampling layout is more related to the Earth's surface, such as in remote sensing and satellite imagery.
John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh
English mathematician who made extensive contributions to science.
English mathematician who made extensive contributions to science.
In optics, Rayleigh proposed a well-known criterion for angular resolution.
Radio telescope
Specialized antenna and radio receiver used to detect radio waves from astronomical radio sources in the sky.
Specialized antenna and radio receiver used to detect radio waves from astronomical radio sources in the sky.
The angular resolution of a dish antenna is determined by the ratio of the diameter of the dish to the wavelength of the radio waves being observed.
Astronomical seeing
Astronomical object due to turbulent airflows in the atmosphere of Earth that may become visible as blurring, twinkling or variable distortion.
Astronomical object due to turbulent airflows in the atmosphere of Earth that may become visible as blurring, twinkling or variable distortion.
Seeing is a major limitation to the angular resolution in astronomical observations with telescopes that would otherwise be limited through diffraction by the size of the telescope aperture.
Diffraction
Obstacle or opening.
Obstacle or opening.
The Rayleigh criterion specifies that two point sources are considered "resolved" if the separation of the two images is at least the radius of the Airy disk, i.e. if the first minimum of one coincides with the maximum of the other.
Objective (optics)
Optical element that gathers light from the object being observed and focuses the light rays to produce a real image.
Optical element that gathers light from the object being observed and focuses the light rays to produce a real image.
A telescope's light-gathering power and angular resolution are both directly related to the diameter (or "aperture") of its objective lens or mirror.
Optical telescope
Telescope that gathers and focuses light mainly from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, to create a magnified image for direct visual inspection, to make a photograph, or to collect data through electronic image sensors.
Telescope that gathers and focuses light mainly from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, to create a magnified image for direct visual inspection, to make a photograph, or to collect data through electronic image sensors.
It is analogous to angular resolution, but differs in definition: instead of separation ability between point-light sources it refers to the physical area that can be resolved.
Wavelength
Spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.
Spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.
Diffraction is the fundamental limitation on the resolving power of optical instruments, such as telescopes (including radiotelescopes) and microscopes.
Astronomical interferometer
Set of separate telescopes, mirror segments, or radio telescope antennas that work together as a single telescope to provide higher resolution images of astronomical objects such as stars, nebulas and galaxies by means of interferometry.
Set of separate telescopes, mirror segments, or radio telescope antennas that work together as a single telescope to provide higher resolution images of astronomical objects such as stars, nebulas and galaxies by means of interferometry.
The advantage of this technique is that it can theoretically produce images with the angular resolution of a huge telescope with an aperture equal to the separation between the component telescopes.
Aperture synthesis
Aperture synthesis or synthesis imaging is a type of interferometry that mixes signals from a collection of telescopes to produce images having the same angular resolution as an instrument the size of the entire collection.