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Q:
Does Chandra have a resolution? What is resolution if it has
it?
A:
In astronomy, "resolution" or "resolving power" refers to the
ability of a telescope to distinguish details. "Angular
resolution" refers to the ability to distinguish details in an
image. For example, Chandra can distinguish details that are
only half an arc second apart. If your eyes had similar
resolving power, you could read the letters on a stop sign at a
distance of 12 miles!. "Energy resolution" refers to the ability
to distinguish the energies or wavelengths of photons. In
visible light, this amounts to the ability to distinguish
different colors. When Chandra makes an observation with the
transmission gratings in place, it can distinguish thousands of
different X-ray energies or colors.
Find
out more about Chandra's specifications
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