This Is The Area That Is Visible When A Viewer Is Staring At A Fixed Point In Space
When a person is staring at a fixed point in space, they have the ability to observe a large area of the night sky. This area is known as the observer’s field of view. Generally speaking, the larger the lens, telescope, or binoculars an observer is using, the greater the area that is visible.
Astronomy 101: What is the Observers Field of View?
The observer’s field of view is the total area of the night sky that is visible when a person stares fixedly at a point in space. It is determined by the lens, telescope, or binoculars that the observer is using. When a person is looking at the night sky, they are able to see a wide array of stars, planets, and other astronomical phenomena. With a standard sized telescope, an observer can see a plethora of stars and planets within their field of view.
Zooming In: Telescopes Increase Your Field of View
When a person is using a telescope to observe the night sky, they are able to zoom in and see far more than they could with the naked eye. Telescopes are equipped with lenses that are much bigger than the human eye, so they are able to gather much more light. This allows the observer to see fainter stars, nebulae, and galaxies than they would be able to with just their eyes.
Conclusion
The observer’s field of view is the total area of the night sky that can be seen when a person stares fixedly at a single point in space. With a standard size telescope, an observer can see many stars and planets within their field of view. Telescopes are able to increase the observers field of view by gathering more light from distant objects in space.