1. What is Telescope Field of View?

The Field of View (FOV) of a telescope with a camera describes the angular extent of the observable area that can be seen at any given moment. It depends on both the camera's sensor size and the telescope's focal length.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the FOV formula:

Where:

• \( \text{sensor size} \) — Camera sensor dimension in millimeters
• \( \text{focal length} \) — Telescope focal length in millimeters
• \( \pi \) — Mathematical constant (~3.14159)

Explanation: The formula converts the linear measurement (sensor size) to an angular measurement (degrees) based on the telescope's magnification power (focal length).

3. Importance of FOV Calculation

Details: Knowing your FOV helps in planning astrophotography sessions, determining what celestial objects will fit in your frame, and comparing different telescope-camera combinations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the camera sensor size in millimeters (typically available in specifications) and the telescope's focal length in millimeters. Both values must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Should I use width or height for sensor size?
A: Typically use the width for horizontal FOV, height for vertical FOV, or diagonal for diagonal FOV. Be consistent in your measurements.

Q2: What are typical FOV values for telescopes?
A: Wide-field telescopes might have 1-2° FOV, while planetary telescopes might have 0.1-0.5° FOV with typical cameras.

Q3: How does FOV relate to magnification?
A: Higher magnification (longer focal length) results in smaller FOV, while shorter focal lengths give wider FOV.

Q4: Does pixel size affect FOV?
A: No, FOV is determined by sensor size and focal length. Pixel size affects resolution, not FOV.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's mathematically precise for rectilinear optics. Some distortion may occur at the edges with certain optical designs.