Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Atomic-S on 07/08/2007 06:46:56

Title: Large binocular telescope
Post by: Atomic-S on 07/08/2007 06:46:56

Regarding the Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham:

How can they create high resolution images with only 2 mirrors? I would have thought that a minimum of three would be required, arranged in a triangle. It appears from info re the LBT that interferometric images can be created using 2 mirrors if the mirrors can be repositioned; however it does not seem to me from what I was able to discern about the LBT that its mirrors can be rotated about the axis of observation, which I assume would be necessary.

Title: Large binocular telescope
Post by: syhprum on 07/08/2007 07:17:30

I believe that the rotation of the Earth provides the necessary movement in much the same way that the orbiting of the satellite provides the movement for a synthetic aperture radar