High-resolution imaging of solar system objects with space telescopes and ground-based telescopes

Abstract

The atmosphere of the earth restricts the resolution of conventional astronomical imaging with ground-based telescopes to about 0.5 arcsec. Much higher resolution can be obtained by interferometric imaging with space telescopes or large ground-based telescopes. We will discuss the following methods: (a)High-resolution imaging with ground-based telescopes and interferometers. We will discuss the principle and astronomical applications of speckle interferometry, the Knox-Thompson method, the nonredundant mask technique, speckle masking, speckle spectroscopy and optical long-baseline interferometry. For example, speckle imaging with a 3.6-m telescope yields a resolution of 0.03 arcsec. We will show speckle masking observations of NGC 3603, the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068, and of the asteroids Ceres and Vesta. Optical long-baseline interferometry with the ESO Very Large Telescope will yield the fantastic resolution of 0.001 arcsec. The limiting magnitude of speckle imaging is about 18th magnitude. 1. (b)High-resolution imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope. We will discuss the principle of the roll deconvolution technique. At λ ∼ 140 nm roll deconvolution imaging with the HST will yield a resolution of about 0.015 arcsec.