Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ ZENODOarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
versions View all 2 versions
addClaim

Focal Length and Image Scale

Authors: Faradjizadeh, Farzad;

Focal Length and Image Scale

Abstract

This journal is the Week 4 companion document in the Austronomic foundational series, which approaches amateur astronomy as a systems-oriented engineering and scientific discipline. It establishes focal length as the geometric parameter governing the angular scale of the image formed at the telescope focal plane, and derives the two governing relationships from first principles. The plate scale equation s = 206,265 × p / f quantifies the angular extent of a single detector pixel in arcseconds, where p is the pixel pitch in micrometres and f is the effective focal length in millimetres. The field-of-view equation FOV = 3438 × d_s / f gives the angular span of the full sensor along a given axis in arcminutes. Both relationships are derived from the thin lens equation under the small-angle approximation and are instrument-independent: they apply to any telescope-camera combination for which the focal length and pixel size are known. The journal treats focal reducers and Barlow lenses as effective-focal-length multipliers within the same framework. A visual-astronomy analogue is developed through the eyepiece field stop to connect the photographic field-of-view concept to the more familiar visual experience. The methodology is illustrated through worked examples spanning eight telescope-camera configurations with focal lengths from 490 mm to 2350 mm and image scales from 1.22 to 0.25 arcseconds per pixel. An experimental programme for empirically confirming any predicted plate scale by astrometric plate solving is defined with a 5 percent tolerance criterion and a structured discrepancy analysis framework. The procedure is demonstrated using Omega Centauri as a reference field from a southern-hemisphere observing site. This journal is produced as part of a 12-week educational series. Week 4 addresses the geometric mapping link in the complete photon-to-pixel imaging chain, following Week 3 (aperture and resolution) and preceding Week 5 (focal ratio and exposure efficiency).

Keywords

eyepiece field stop, Barlow lens, Gaia catalogue, educational astronomy, imaging system design, Austronomic, southern hemisphere astronomy, optical geometry, image scale, astrometric plate solving, focal length, telescope-camera configuration, astrophotography, Omega Centauri, pixel size, focal reducer, angular sampling, telescope optics, thin lens equation, small-angle approximation, effective focal length, instrument trade study, engineering astronomy, field of view, plate scale

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average