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1 vote
1 answer
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Assessing the quality of wavefront correction in adaptive optics systems: the case of single and multiple radiation sources

Generalized diagram of an adaptive optical system is as follows: Wavefront from the observation object passes through the atmosphere and is distorted. It is then reflected from the deformable mirror ...
ayr's user avatar
  • 139
2 votes
1 answer
35 views

Advantage of a single large telescope over many small ones for optical/infrared spectroscopy?

In a thought experiment where we would like to do optical/infrared spectroscopy on distant galaxies, and in which we would like to increase as much as possible the resolution of the spectroscopy (...
Vincent's user avatar
  • 1,109
1 vote
1 answer
70 views

In the future, can advanced telescopes be used to observe different laws of physics at the time of the big bang?

I've heard that because light takes time to travel from one place to another, we see objects in distant galaxies as they were when they released the light. new and advanced telescopes are able to see ...
Hannah's user avatar
  • 31
2 votes
0 answers
81 views

Keck versus Webb: discrepancies in the redshift measurements of the galaxy GN-z11 (the most distant galaxy discovered with the Hubble Space Telescope)

Two years ago Nature Astronomy published a paper based on measurements from the Keck Telescope stating that the redshift of the galaxy GN-z11 (discovered by Hubble) is: $$ z=10.957 \pm 0.001 $$ Source:...
Albert's user avatar
  • 507
1 vote
1 answer
97 views

How do you actually use an astronomical interferometer to measure small distances?

The question in the title might be too broad, so for definiteness we can focus on the Michelson stellar interferometer which, as I understand it, is more or less just two telescopes some distance ...
Javier's user avatar
  • 28.3k
3 votes
2 answers
77 views

How deep can a 'deep field' image be?

Hubble's famous deep field image was created by pointing the telescope at the same spot for 10 days continously. This aggregates photons and creates a coherent image - If I understand what's going on ...
vineeth venugopal's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
75 views

Is there a naturally occurring siderostat (fixed orientation, absolutely nonrotating object as if locked to the distant galaxies or the universe)?

Often, a telescope is attached to an equatorial mount with a motor that counteracts the earth's rotation so that the telescope has no net rotation. It may be designed to counteract the known rotation ...
Matthew Christopher Bartsh's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
155 views

What are the farthest distances JWST can see?

I was just wondering a simple question: what is the farthest distance (equivalently the least time after the Big Bang) that the JWST could theorically see? Can it be estimated somehow WITH SOME ...
riemannium's user avatar
  • 6,611
3 votes
1 answer
148 views

In what sense is the JWST image of Jupiter an improvement over prior telescopes?

JWST photographed Jupiter: The data includes images of Jupiter and images and spectra of several asteroids... The data demonstrates Webb’s to track solar system targets and produce images and spectra ...
spraff's user avatar
  • 5,148
62 votes
7 answers
9k views

Why do some lights captured by the Webb telescope have rays and others don't?

On the images captured by Webb telescope one can see some lights with 6 rays, but most others don't have any. One would expect the optics to transform all light sources at infinity in the same manner. ...
Michael's user avatar
  • 1,951
17 votes
1 answer
2k views

Questions about first JWST image

Why do the circled galaxies seem to form long circular arcs that surround the white point at the center? And why do most of the galaxies in this image seem to be facing that same point? What is in ...
bloop's user avatar
  • 297
6 votes
1 answer
684 views

Why are radio telescopes in orbit radio telescopes?

We use radio telescopes on Earth because of the atmosphere, right? It blocks the more energetic wavelengths but not radio waves and microwaves. So, since radiation like x-ray and gamma radiation are ...
CosmeticMichu's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
35 views

The Event Horizon Telescope collaboration will announce groundbreaking observations of our galaxy at 12 May 2022, what this announcement could be? [closed]

"Live webcasting for the ESO-hosted EHT 2022 event On 12 May 2022 at 15:00 CEST, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) will host a press conference on groundbreaking new Milky Way results from ...
Markoul11's user avatar
  • 4,170
2 votes
0 answers
122 views

How does the James Webb Space Telescope avoid stick/slip and creep problems when positioning its mirrors?

The JWST is now positioning its mirrors so they form a single image. How James Webb's Mirrors MUST Work To do this, each mirror must be positioned in 8 nanometer steps in 6 degrees of freedom. Here is ...
mmesser314's user avatar
  • 41.1k
0 votes
1 answer
63 views

Are there Wolter telescope lenses for consumer cameras?

Wolter telescopes are used for x-ray astronomy. However, I see no reason why they couldn't be used for visible light as well. How would a visible image look when taken through a Wolter telescope? Are ...
SarahJuliet1510's user avatar

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