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17 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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focus
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the point at which rays of light that were initially parallel converge
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image
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a picture of an object made by focusing light
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focal plane
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the place where an image created by a lens or mirror is in focus
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exposure time
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the amount of time during which light is collected to make a single image
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CCD (charge coupled device)
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a type of electronic light detector that has largely replaced photographic film in astronomical research
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pixel
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an individual picture element on a CCD
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light-collecting area
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the area of the primary mirror or lens that collects light in a telescope
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angular resolution
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the smallest angular separation that two pointlike objects can have and still be seen as distinct points of light
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diffraction limit
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the angular resolution that a telescope could achieve if it were limited only by the interference of light waves; it is smaller for larger telescopes
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refracting telescope
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a telescope that uses lenses to focus light
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reflecting telescope
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a telescope that uses mirrors to focus light
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spectograph
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an instrument used to record spectra
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spectral resolution
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the degree of detail that can be seen in a spectrum
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light curve
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a graph of an object's intensity against time
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light pollution
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human-made light that hinders astronomical observations
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turbulence
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rapid and random motion
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adaptive optics
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a technique in which telescope mirrors flex rapidly to compensate for the bending of starlight caused by atmospheric turbulence
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