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Chapter 34: Problem 15

Many astronomical observatories, and especially radio observatories, are coupling several telescopes together. What are the advantages of this?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The advantages of coupling several telescopes together in observatories, particularly in radio observatories, include improved resolution, increased sensitivity, and adaptable array configurations. This enables astronomers to make more accurate observations and gain a better understanding of the universe's mysteries.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction

When studying celestial objects, using multiple telescopes that are coupled together can provide significant advantages over using a single telescope. This technique is commonly seen in radio observatories, and it is known as interferometry.
02

Improved Resolution

One major advantage of coupling several telescopes together is the increased resolution that the combined system achieves. Since the resolution of a telescope depends on its aperture size, the larger the aperture, the better the resolution. By connecting multiple telescopes, we can effectively create a virtual telescope with an aperture size equal to the distance between the telescopes. This results in much finer angular resolution and a significant enhancement in the ability to observe details in celestial objects.
03

Increased Sensitivity

Another advantage of using multiple telescopes is the increase in sensitivity. Combining the signals from several telescopes enables the astronomers to detect faint objects more efficiently and reduces the overall noise in the signal. In turn, this leads to better-quality images and allows for more precise measurements of celestial objects’ properties.
04

Array Configurations

An additional benefit of coupling telescopes together is the flexibility in array configurations. Different configurations can be chosen to optimize the observation's performance based on the specific scientific goals. This means that astronomers can adapt the system to study a wide range of astronomical phenomena, such as observing fine structures within galaxies or measuring the distance to a remote quasar.
05

Conclusion

In conclusion, coupling several telescopes together in observatories, particularly in radio observatories, offers significant advantages such as improved resolution, increased sensitivity, and adaptable array configurations. These benefits enable astronomers to make more accurate observations and gain a better understanding of the universe's mysteries.

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