Spherical Trigonometry of the Projected Baseline Angle

The basic vector geometry of a stellar interferometer with two telescopes is defined by the right triangle of (i) the baseline vector between the telescopes, of (ii) the delay vector which points to the star, and of (iii) the projected baseline vector in the plane of the wavefront of the stellar lig...

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Main Author: Mathar, R. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Astronomical Observatory, Department of Astronomy, Belgrade 2008-12-01
Series:Serbian Astronomical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://saj.matf.bg.ac.rs/177/pdf/115-124.pdf
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author Mathar, R. J.
author_facet Mathar, R. J.
author_sort Mathar, R. J.
collection DOAJ
description The basic vector geometry of a stellar interferometer with two telescopes is defined by the right triangle of (i) the baseline vector between the telescopes, of (ii) the delay vector which points to the star, and of (iii) the projected baseline vector in the plane of the wavefront of the stellar light. The plane of this triangle intersects the celestial sphere at the position of the star; the intersection is a circular line segment. The interferometric angular resolution is high (diffraction limited to the ratio of the wavelength over the projected baseline length) in the two directions along thisline segment, and low (diffraction limited to the ratio of thewavelength over the telescope diameter) perpendicular to these. Theposition angle of these characteristic directions in the sky iscalculated here, given either local horizontal coordinates, orcelestial equatorial coordinates.
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spelling doaj.art-db77729998f948feba289e3e1380502e2022-12-22T02:50:41ZengAstronomical Observatory, Department of Astronomy, BelgradeSerbian Astronomical Journal1450-698X2008-12-01177115124Spherical Trigonometry of the Projected Baseline AngleMathar, R. J.The basic vector geometry of a stellar interferometer with two telescopes is defined by the right triangle of (i) the baseline vector between the telescopes, of (ii) the delay vector which points to the star, and of (iii) the projected baseline vector in the plane of the wavefront of the stellar light. The plane of this triangle intersects the celestial sphere at the position of the star; the intersection is a circular line segment. The interferometric angular resolution is high (diffraction limited to the ratio of the wavelength over the projected baseline length) in the two directions along thisline segment, and low (diffraction limited to the ratio of thewavelength over the telescope diameter) perpendicular to these. Theposition angle of these characteristic directions in the sky iscalculated here, given either local horizontal coordinates, orcelestial equatorial coordinates.http://saj.matf.bg.ac.rs/177/pdf/115-124.pdfMethods: analyticalTechniques: interferometricReference systems
spellingShingle Mathar, R. J.
Spherical Trigonometry of the Projected Baseline Angle
Serbian Astronomical Journal
Methods: analytical
Techniques: interferometric
Reference systems
title Spherical Trigonometry of the Projected Baseline Angle
title_full Spherical Trigonometry of the Projected Baseline Angle
title_fullStr Spherical Trigonometry of the Projected Baseline Angle
title_full_unstemmed Spherical Trigonometry of the Projected Baseline Angle
title_short Spherical Trigonometry of the Projected Baseline Angle
title_sort spherical trigonometry of the projected baseline angle
topic Methods: analytical
Techniques: interferometric
Reference systems
url http://saj.matf.bg.ac.rs/177/pdf/115-124.pdf
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