The resolution of a telescope is ultimately limited by the diameter of its objective lens or mirror. A typical amateur astronomer's telescope may have a 6.09 in diameter mirror. What is the minimum angular separation (in arc seconds) of two stars that can be resolved with a 6.09 in scope

 θ =  3.19  arc second

Explanation:

The resolution of a telescope is given by the rayleigh criterion, which establishes that two objects are separated if the principal maximum of diffraction of one of them coincides with the first minimum of diffraction of the second object, based on this the solution is given by the first diffraction minimum, the a slit is

        a sin θ = m λ

with m = 1

in the case of circular apertures the equation must be found in polar coordinates, therefore a numerical constant is introduced

        a sin θ = 1.22 λ

Angles are measured in radians and in these experiments they are small

        sin θ = θ

       θ= 1.22  λ  / a

in this case a = 6.09 in, the wavelength is wrong = 550 10⁻⁹ m which is the maximum resolution of the human eye

l

et's reduce the magnitudes to the SI system

        d = 6.09‘  2.54 10⁻-2 m / 1 inch = 15.4686 10-2 m

let's calculate

       θ = 1.22 550 10-9 / 15.468 10-2

       θ = 15.5 10⁻⁶ rad

       rad = 2.06 105 s

       θ = 15.5 10⁻⁶ rad  2.06 105s/ 1 rad

       θ =  3.19   s

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b

explanation: