The two Keck 10-m telescopes, separated by a distance of 85 m, can operate as an optical interferometer.What is its resolution when it observes in the infrared at a wavelength of 2 microns?
A) 0.01 arcsec
B) 0.005 arcsec
C) 0.4 arcsec
D) 0.06 arcsec
E) 0.2 arcsec

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The resolution of an interferometer is given by the formula θ = λ / B, where θ is the resolution in radians, λ is the wavelength, and B is the baseline distance. For λ = 2 microns (2 x 10^-6 meters) and B = 85 meters, θ = (2 x 10^-6) / 85 = 2.35 x 10^-8 radians. Converting to arcseconds (1 radian = 206265 arcseconds), the resolution is approximately 0.005 arcseconds.

The Two Keck 10-M Telescopes, Separated by a Distance of 85