Quote:
Originally Posted by glend
Thanks Jorge, I'll have a look at them with my 16" dob (0.34 arc sec resolution). To determine which separation I was seeing with the MN190.
Regarding your resolution arc/sec calculation, my scope is advertised as having 0.29 arc sec resolution but your formula says 0.34, so something is wrong somewhere.
|
That all comes down to what wavelength you're using within the calculation. One is the Dawes Limit with is calculated by 4.56/16 (your telescope being 16") which comes to 0.285 resolution. Doing calculations for red, green, blue and visual average will all give different resolution numbers. Blue light having a shorter wavelength allows for a VERY slightly higher resolution than red.
In truth though, this is the maximum resolution that the telescope can achieve, the atmosphere will NEVER allow you to reach this point. Under the best skies on the planet you'll at best get about 0.5 resolution so in the end, anything larger than an 11" telescope becomes redundant for resolution.