The James Webb Space Telescope has a main mirror of 6.5 metres diameter. When observing at a wavelength of 1 μm, calculate the minimum angular separation of two stars which can just be resolved, such that the central diffraction peak of one star coincides with the first dark ring of the other star. Give your answer in arcseconds, where 1 arcsec = 1/3600 degree. (You may neglect the effects of the segmented primary mirror and obstruction by the secondary mirror).

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The James Webb Space Telescope has a main mirror of 6.5 metres diameter. When observing
at a wavelength of 1 μm, calculate the minimum angular separation of two stars which can just
be resolved, such that the central diffraction peak of one star coincides with the first dark ring of
the other star.
Give your answer in arcseconds, where 1 arcsec = 1/3600 degree. (You may neglect the effects
of the segmented primary mirror and obstruction by the secondary mirror).
Transcribed Image Text:The James Webb Space Telescope has a main mirror of 6.5 metres diameter. When observing at a wavelength of 1 μm, calculate the minimum angular separation of two stars which can just be resolved, such that the central diffraction peak of one star coincides with the first dark ring of the other star. Give your answer in arcseconds, where 1 arcsec = 1/3600 degree. (You may neglect the effects of the segmented primary mirror and obstruction by the secondary mirror).
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