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What really is the resolution limit of a scope?


gufo20

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I am fascinated by the real resolution limit of a scope. Theory says that what we see or image is a convolution of the actual feature and the Airy disk of the scope, so that any fine detail will be lost when we approach limits set by the laws of physics. Some claim that imaging (eg lucky imaging) can improve this, but if so 

platoplus.thumb.jpg.a718bfbf592ec985890d0b7450798c79.jpg

how?

However, looking at images I've taken there is no doubt that my scope (180 Mak) appears to show detail that should not be visible. For example, in this image of Plato (crop) plenty of crater detail is visible. I've included the Wiki reworked Lunar orbiter image alongside to show the true width of the craters. The Airy disk of my scope should be about 1.2 km (converting 0.7 arcsec into km) and yet a 1.3km crater (just below centre) shows the illuminated half of the crater quite clearly, and the 1.37km crater on the right clearly shows the same.

Comments please?

Chris

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