Limitations to Telescope Performance
OPD >> 1/14 wave RMS, if Dt >> ~ 5Da
- Star image is a “large blur” spot
- Star image is not moving about within the field, although image may be “boiling”
- All large telescopes (Dt > 600 mm) exhibit this atmospherically degraded optical performance, regardless of how perfectly made, unless at a favorable location [or unless equipped with adaptive optics (wavefront correction for 300 points/0.003 seconds)].
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