What are the properties of the human eye as an optical telescope?
OK...here are some stats:
Pupil size ( dark adapted).............. 4 millimeters diameter Resolving power......................... 1 arcminute Size of diffraction limit at fovea...... 5 microns Density of (B/W) rods at fovea................ 2.7 rods/square arcminute Density of (color)cones at fovea............... 0.1 cones/square arcminute Size of region containing less than 1 cone..... 1.5 degrees Average peak spectral response wavelength...... 5600 Angstroms Half power blue sensitivity limit.............. 5100 Angstroms Half power red sensitivity limit............... 6100 Angstroms Dark adapted peak response..................... 5100 Angstroms Dark adapted half power blue limit............. 4700 Angstroms Dark adapted half power red limit.............. 5500 Angstroms Quantum threshold for least detectable light... 60 quanta/0.15 sec incident Quantum threshold for least detectable light... 4 quanta/0.15 sec absorbed Threshold for steady source.................... 1.4 x 10^-10 stilb
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