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13 votes
2 answers
256 views

Why hasn't VLBI been used to try and image giant exoplanets?

A Jupiter-sized object at 10 pc subtends an angle of 0.0001 arcseconds (100 micro-arcsec) at the Earth. The Event Horizon Telescope interferometry network is capable of a (demonstrated) angular ...
ProfRob's user avatar
  • 155k
3 votes
0 answers
79 views

Mega Telescope using gravitational lensing and interferometry

I have been thinking about this crazy telescope idea, but I am not smart enough to understand if it's technically possible. I understand from an engineering and practical point of view it's a long way ...
Adrian's user avatar
  • 51
6 votes
2 answers
106 views

In terms of results, how similar is a bunch of telescopes across the globe to an Earth-sized telescope?

The Event Horizon Telescope emulates an Earth-sized telescope by syncing a bunch of radio telescopes across the planet to do take pictures with a small enough angular resolution to take pictures of a ...
zucculent's user avatar
  • 1,758
1 vote
0 answers
99 views

Maximum number of pixels across a synthesized beam in an ALMA image?

I have some ALMA data, from which I have created images using the TCLEAN task in CASA. I understand that with this type of data, it is necessary to have at least 2 pixels across the FWHM of the ...
lucas's user avatar
  • 1,386
4 votes
1 answer
136 views

Have interference effects (in space) ever been observed by a single instrument, as opposed to interferometry?

Not asking about: Interferometry can be done with multiple instruments who's light paths or signals are combined interferometrically, or even between different parts of a single aperture, e.g. What ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

rms noise, confusion and dynamic range in radio images

I have been trying to understand imaging in radio astronomy. Below are some of my questions related to it and my understanding of their answers. I am not very confident about my understanding of them ...
user307105's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
41 views

How does speckle imaging fit in to 21st century high resolution imaging from ground based observatories?

Phys.org's Astronomers uncover evidence that there could be many more Earth-sized planets than previously thought references Speckle Observations of TESS Exoplanet Host Stars. II. Stellar Companions ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k
6 votes
1 answer
156 views

Reference request (explaining) how optical correlators combine light from multiple telescopes to produce ultra-high resolution interferometric images?

This is a reference or resource-request because it may be too challenging to explain in an answer post, but if you'd like to attempt a short summary as well, that will be great! I have a basic ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k
7 votes
1 answer
106 views

What could a cloud of mini radio dishes see?

Suppose an astronomer gave a 1 m radio dish to 500 people scattered over the face of the Earth and connected them to the internet. The people are directed to set their radio antennae up in their ...
jvriesem's user avatar
  • 652
4 votes
1 answer
115 views

What is the significance of using baseline pairs in radio interferometry?

Radio interferometry utilizes arrays of smaller telescopes that are linked together to synthesize a larger aperture telescope. Astronomical radio observatories, such as the Very Large Array in New ...
Astroturf's user avatar
  • 1,111
11 votes
1 answer
610 views

Was GRAVITY built to look at one star?

GRAVITY (shown below) is a interferometric combiner of near infrared light from four very large telescopes called The Very Large Telescope in order to make careful astrometric measurements near the ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k
2 votes
1 answer
119 views

What does a narrow-band "point spread function" look like for long exposures from the VLT's large interferometric aperture?

In interferometric radio astronomy UV plots are the first step in understanding what a point spread function (PSF) will look like for a given location in the sky observed over a period of time. The ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k
4 votes
0 answers
136 views

How did Michelson measure the diameters of jupiter's moons using optical interferometry?

In Betelgeuse: How its Diameter was measured (Chant, C. A., Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Vol. 15, p.133, Bibliographic Code: 1921JRASC..15..133C) the author says: The paper in ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k
3 votes
1 answer
256 views

Has optical interferometry been done at radio frequency using heterodyning with a laser in a nonlinear material?

If one collects narrow band optical emission from a large telescope with frequency $f_1$ and mixes it in a nonlinear crystal with laser light of a nearby frequency $f_2$, it would produce two new ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k
1 vote
1 answer
302 views

Can the interferometer called "Gravity" measure "a few centimeters on the Moon"?

Phys.org's Very Large Telescope sees star dance around supermassive black hole, proves Einstein right links to several ESO videos, including Interview with Reinhard Genzel (in English). After ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k

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