How do you solve the following problem? The Hubble Space Telescope has a mirror

Question

How do you solve the following problem?

The Hubble Space Telescope has a mirror diameter of 2.4 . Suppose the telescope is used to photograph stars near the center of our galaxy, 33,000 light years away, using red light with a wavelength of 650nm .

What's the distance (in ) between two stars that are marginally resolved? The resolution of a reflecting telescope is calculated exactly the same as for a refracting telescope.

For comparison, what is this distance as a multiple of the distance of Jupiter from the sun?


thanks

Explanation / Answer

Diameter of mirror, d = 2.4 m

Distance of star, D = 33000 light years

                              =33000* 3 * 10 ^ 8 years

                             = 33000* 3 * 10 ^ 8 * 365* 24 * 3600 m

                              = 3.122*10^20 m

Wavelength of light, ?= 650 * 10 ^ -9 m

The distance between two stars that are marginally resolved is given by the formula

                      x = 1.22  ?D / d

                         = 10.316* 10 ^ 13 m

                         = 10.316 * 10 ^ 10 km

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse H
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.