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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dawes' limit is a formula to express the maximum resolving power of a microscope or telescope.[1] It is so named after its discoverer, William Rutter Dawes ,[2] although it is also credited to Lord Rayleigh.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2021) |
The formula takes different forms depending on the units.
R = 4.56/D | D in inches, R in arcseconds |
R = 11.6/D | D in centimeters, R in arcseconds |
where | D is the diameter of the main lens (aperture) |
R is the resolving power of the instrument |
This formula agrees with the usual at a wavelength of about 460nm, somewhat bluer than the peak sensitivity of rod cells at c. 498nm.
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