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- 威 望
- 17 点
- 星 点
- 8715 点
- 会员卡
- 1 张
- 观星币
- 40 枚
  
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RESOLVING POWER AND MAGNIFICATION POWER
The magnification of the telescope (M) is given by the ratio between the objective and eyepiece focal lengths: M = Fob/Fep. You cannot simply magnify at will, seeing more and more details. The maximum magnification you can reach with a telescope is limited by the diameter of the objective. The larger the diameter of the objective, the closer are the points it is able to distinguish as separated.
The resolving power (RP) of a corrected objective, expressed in seconds of arc, is given by RP" = 120/D where D is the diameter of the objective in millimeters. The human eye has an RP of about 60". Hence, the maximum magnification you can obtain from an objective (MM) is given by the ratio between the RP of the eye and that of the objective: MM = RPeye / RPob.
For instance, an achromatic objective with a diameter of 80 mm has an RP of 120 / 80 = 1.5". Hence, the right magnification using this objective should be 60 / 1.5 = 40X. In practice, you can double this value, but it is better avoiding to go further, because the amount of visible detail will not increase. In the end, follow this simple rule: the magnification power of a telescope has not to exceed the diameter of its objective, expressed in mm. Check the real RP of your instrument by means of double stars whose angular distances are tabulated in astronomical books.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE TELESCOPE
The most spectacular heavenly body to observe with a telescope is without a doubt the Moon. The best time to observe the Moon with your telescope is at the first quarter, when it appears only half illuminated. Under these conditions, lunar mountains and craters project long shadows, making them better visible from the Earth.
Make your first observations with the simple telescope, the one with the eyeglass lens as objective. At the beginning, keep the objective at the maximum aperture. At the edge of the objects, you can see the blue color at one side, and the orange color at the other side. These colors are produced by chromatic aberration. The image will appear quite confusing. Now place the diaphragm on the objective. It will greatly reduce the aberrations, you see the difference! But on the other hand, the brightness of the image will be dramatically decreased as will the resolving power. Using an achromatic telescope, instead, these defects are by comparison nearly imperceptible even without a diaphragm. In fact, with this type of instrument, the diaphragm is not needed.
Other objects to observe are the nearest planets. Jupiter shows four satellites aligned along the equatorial plane, appearing as a model of the solar system. For observing the Rings of Saturn, you will need of an instrument of good quality and high magnification power. The comparison between the apparent sizes of Jupiter and Saturn give you an idea of great distances in astronomy. You can also see Venus, which shows phases as the Moon, and you can even see star clusters and double stars.
WARNING:
DO NOT USE THE TELESCOPE TO OBSERVE THE SUN!
You will burn the retina of your eye!
What you can do, instead, is to project the image of the Sun on a screen or on a wall of your room. You can do this during a solar eclipse. You will enjoy an amazing spectacle, which you can share with many friends.
Terrestrial observations are also amusing. With the telescope, you can appreciate that the birds flying in your garden are not all sparrows, but also titmice, robins, finches, blackcaps, etc. With your telescope, you will be able to recognize the various species by their colored plumage. You can also observe the insects flying on the flowers, without getting your nose stung! |
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秋夜的星空下,我可以无忧无虑地仰望秋天的天空,数着一颗颗的星星 |
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