Lecture 7: Optics and Telescopes
28 Mar.,2024
- Telescopes usually don't see angles as small as
predicted above.
- The turbulent atmosphere refracts light in a random
way causing blurriness.
- If the atmosphere is very still so that there isn't
much blurriness, then we say that the seeing is good.
- Telescopes are often built on top of high mountains, so
there is less atmosphere for the star's light to travel through
- Another solution: put the telescope above the atmosphere, like
the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Another solution: adaptive optics. Monitor a guide
star and change the shape of the objective mirror to
compensate for the atmosphere's turbulence.
The best telescopes are put where the seeing is good. Such places can get crowded !
If you have any questions on optical components. We will give the professional answers to your questions.