BRAINCAKEAngular Magnification
The angular magnification, M, of a telescope compares the angle subtended at the eye by the image with the angle subtended at the unaided eye by the object:
M = angle subtended by image at eye / angle subtended by object at unaided eye = β / α
Astronomical objects subtend tiny angles, so a telescope makes them look larger by increasing the angle, not by making a bigger image on a screen.
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More in Astrophysics
- Refracting Telescopes
- Reflecting Telescopes
- Chromatic and Spherical Aberration
- Resolving Power
- Radio Telescopes
- Charge-Coupled Devices
- Apparent Magnitude
- Parsecs and Light Years
All 24 lessons in Astrophysics · All AQA A-level Physics topics