Two optical telescopes are operating at the exact same frequency. The first tele

Question

Two optical telescopes are operating at the exact same frequency. The first
telescope is a 10 m telescope that is planned to be located at the L2 Lagrangian point
1.5 million kilometers past the orbit of the Earth. The second telescope is a 2 m
telescope that is planned to be placed on the far side of the moon (average distance
to the moon is 380,000 km from the Earth). Which telescope will have the greater
light gathering power and why? If the 10m telescope were placed on the Earth on
top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii at 14000 feet instead of at L2, which telescope NOW
has the greater light gathering power, by what factor and why?

Explanation / Answer

the answer to (a) is 10m

(b) Simply put: the greater you ability to gather light the great number of object yo can see with greater clarity and less magnification. A 10m scope can gather 500% surface area than the 2m scope. Thus, the 10 m scope has the greater light gathering capability.

c) The 10 m telescope has a *SMALLER* light gathering power

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