Telescopes & instruments · θ = 1.22 λ / D
Angular Resolution (Rayleigh)
The finest detail a telescope can resolve, set by diffraction at its aperture — the Rayleigh criterion. Bigger apertures see finer detail; a 100 mm telescope resolves about 1.4 arcseconds in green light.
Angular resolution1.384arcsec
Formula: θ = 1.22 λ / D
Worked example
With the default inputs, angular resolution (rayleigh) evaluates to 1.384 arcsec — 100 mm at 550 nm → ~1.4″. The validator recomputes this against the known value on every build, so the formula is checked, not asserted.
Highlights
- ›100 mm: ~1.4″
The physics behind it
Knowledge connections
- Associated withHubble Space Telescope
- Associated withTelescope Magnification
- Associated withLimiting Magnitude
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.