AST 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Curved Mirror, Eyepiece, W. M. Keck Observatory
6 Jun 2020
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Document Summary
Telescopes have been the key tool for astronomical research since their use by galileo in 1609. Galileo"s telescopes and many other early telescopes were refracting telescopes. 1 metre is about the largest feasible size for a lens so this design cant be used for large telescopes. Lens becomes so heavy it will deform under its own weight. Use a curved mirror instead of a lens to focus light. Type of design is used for most modern astronomical telescopes. Light collecting power: determined by the aperture of the telescope i. e. the diameter of its mirror or lens. A bigger telescope collects more light and can therefore see fainter stars or galaxies. Resolving power: or angular resolution is the telescope"s ability to see fine detail. Bigger is always better when it comes to telescopes. 100 inch 2. 5m telescope at mount wilson (la) completed in 1917. Made important discoveries including edwin hubble"s work on the distances of galaxies.
