why is a radio telescope not capaple of attaining the same resolutions as an optical telescope of the same?

Question

size?

Answer 1

The resolution of an imaging system is limited by diffraction. The image of a point source, such as a star, has an angular size that is proportional to the wavelength of the light or radio waves, divided by aperture. Light waves are around 500 nanometers (500 x 10^-9 meters), while radio astronomy is typically done at wavelengths of a few centimeters (n x 10^-2 meters). So a radio telescope would have to be around 100,000 times the size of an optical telescope to achieve the same resolution.

Rather than build impossibly huge radio dishes, radio astronomy uses synthetic aperture techniques, combining the signals from widely separated dishes to get the resolution of a single dish the diameter of the separation.

Answer 2

The stuff approximately radio and 75 ft and optical isn't significant to this question. the significant info are that one telescope has a determination of 29 arcminutes (the size of the moon, some million/2 degree), and the different has a determination of a million arcsecond. i'm hoping you are able to be sure that's extra useful.

Answer 3

Well gee Kevin. I noticed Injanier managed to explain the situation just fine in a few quick paragraphs. Resolution increases with aperture and decreases with wavelength. Radio wavelengths are many orders of magnitude greater than optical light. The end.

Answer 4

I am unsure as to what exactly you are referring to as a radio telescope uses frequencies outside of human sight. Regular optical telescopes use only the visible spectrum. It is like comparing paper airplanes to the Space Shuttle.

Answer 5

This would take awhile to explain, but I'm willing to collaborate on it with you. Messenger me on Yahoo! Messenger and I'd be glad to explain my understanding of it. My ID is
fortitudinousskeptic
- Kevin