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To: MichaelP
3.5 meters aperture is 35 times larger than the 10 cm aperture need to get 1 arcsecond of angular resolution, so its diffraction-limited resolution is 1/35 arcsecond. Suppose the orbiter flew directly overhead at an altitude of 210,000 feet, or 70,000 yards. As rifle shooters know, 1 minute of arc is about 1" at 100 yards, and a second being 1/60 of a minute, would be an inch at 60 x 100 = 6000 yards. 1/35 of a second would be an inch at 35 x 6000 = 210,000 yards. Since the orbiter was three times closer, "only" 70,000 yards away, the picture should contain details to 1/3 inch scale.

In fact, the orbiter was not overhead and also not as low as 210,000 feet, so the distance was greater. Even three times greater, the resolution would still be on the 1" scale, assuming no atmospheric distortions. Typically, the best atmosphere limits resolution to about 0.1 arc seconds, 3.5 times worse than the 1/35 second just calculated. So the picture would then show details down to 3.5" size scale, which is smaller than the size of a single tile.

7 posted on 02/07/2003 10:02:52 AM PST by coloradan
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To: coloradan
Wow.....Has anyone seen these pics posted yet ? Where ? Link ? .......BTTT !!

Stay Safe !

8 posted on 02/07/2003 10:30:23 AM PST by Squantos (RKBA the original version of Homeland Security .....the one proven method that works !)
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To: coloradan
Now, just for grins, do it the other way. Suppose you have a roughly 3.5m aperture and an 80+ inch focal length, what would the resolution be from space to earth? Assume low earth orbit, polar trajectory... wink wink
9 posted on 02/07/2003 10:31:46 AM PST by Blueflag
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To: coloradan
Typically, the best atmosphere limits resolution

If they're used for taking pictures of objects in space, they undoubtedly have a reactive lens which would compensate for most atmospheric distortion.

12 posted on 02/07/2003 10:36:49 AM PST by lepton
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To: coloradan
Also, by combining several frames of video with mapped reference points, the resolution can be substantially improved and even smaller features can be displayed.
16 posted on 02/07/2003 10:44:44 AM PST by balrog666 (Who stole my tag line?)
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