Some research telescopes have secondary mirrors that block the central part of the larger primary mirror. What problem does this introduce for observations?
A) Because the secondary mirror blocks part of the primary, there is a hole in the center of the resulting image.
B) Because the secondary mirror diverts light away from the original path, it distorts the image.
C) Because the secondary mirror blocks part of the primary, the image is darker.
D) There is no disadvantage to this arrangement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The secondary mirror blocks a portion of the light that would otherwise be collected by the primary mirror, leading to a reduction in the overall light gathering capability of the telescope. This results in a dimmer image because less light is available to form the image.

Some Research Telescopes Have Secondary Mirrors That Block the Central