In a message dated 3/10/2004 01:27:46 Mountain Standard Time, paw@trilobyte.net writes: http://planet.state.ut.us/temp/APPLE.JPG Pretty cool Patrick! Now, knowing the military has a telescope system that could have inspected the Shuttle tiles for damage before re-entry I wonder how big a telescope amatuers would have to have to resolve detail on satellites in orbit without adaptive optics? Is it something we could do or is it just beyond us? I will have to get out an almanac and look at the Dawes Limit formula.
The theoretical resolution of a mirror is equal to .1234 divided by the diameter of the mirror in meters. The units of the result are arc seconds. It is also calculated at 500 nm wavelength. You can scale the answer if you want a different wavelength. This is close to Dawes' limit, but not exactly the same. Dawes' limit really has more application to double stars and seeing overlapping airy disks, but does vary a bit. Dawes' limit is 4.56 divided by the diameter in inches. The units of the result are also arc seconds. As you know, this is for stil air, and any seeing problems will greatly reduce the resolution you actually see. Brent --- RStmarie@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 3/10/2004 01:27:46 Mountain Standard Time, paw@trilobyte.net writes: http://planet.state.ut.us/temp/APPLE.JPG Pretty cool Patrick! Now, knowing the military has a telescope system that could have inspected the Shuttle tiles for damage before re-entry I wonder how big a telescope amatuers would have to have to resolve detail on satellites in orbit without adaptive optics? Is it something we could do or is it just beyond us? I will have to get out an almanac and look at the Dawes Limit formula.
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RStmarie@aol.com wrote:
Pretty cool Patrick! Now, knowing the military has a telescope system that could have inspected the Shuttle tiles for damage before re-entry I wonder how big a telescope amatuers would have to have to resolve detail on satellites in orbit without adaptive optics? Is it something we could do or is it just beyond us? I will have to get out an almanac and look at the Dawes Limit formula.
While we can't match what NASA can do I have seen some pretty impressive amateur pictures of satellites on the web. Trouble is you need a mount that accurately tracks satellites and know how to shoot high resolution video images. I strike out on both counts. Anyone on the list with the hardware and knowledge? Patrick
What optics the USAF has on Maui http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/track/amos.htm
Aloha Rob, Glad to see your folder online! When are you going to post some pics of your other scope (on the Schaeffer mount)? We all want to see the Southern Cross as it looks from your back porch as well! Rich __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search - Find what youre looking for faster http://search.yahoo.com
participants (5)
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Brent Watson -
Patrick Wiggins -
Richard Tenney -
Rob Ratkowski -
RStmarie＠aol.com