Telescopes & instruments · M = f_telescope / f_eyepiece
Telescope Magnification
The magnification of a telescope–eyepiece pair — the ratio of their focal lengths. Useful magnification is capped by the aperture and the atmosphere, not by the eyepiece alone.
Magnification100×
Formula: M = f_telescope / f_eyepiece
Worked example
With the default inputs, telescope magnification evaluates to 100 × — 1000 mm / 10 mm → 100×. The validator recomputes this against the known value on every build, so the formula is checked, not asserted.
Highlights
- ›1000 / 10 mm → 100×
The physics behind it
Knowledge connections
- Associated withAngular Resolution (Rayleigh)
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.