Glossary

Coma Aberation

updated: 2024-04-20

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In optics (especially telescopes), the coma (/ˈkmə/), or comatic aberration, in an optical system refers to aberration inherent to certain optical designs or due to imperfection in the lens or other components that results in off-axis point sources such as stars appearing distorted, appearing to have a tail (coma) like a comet. Specifically, coma is defined as a variation in magnification over the entrance pupil. In refractive or diffractive optical systems, especially those imaging a wide spectral range, coma can be a function of wavelength, in which case it is a form of chromatic aberration.

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Schemes to reduce coma without introducing spherical aberration include SchmidtMaksutovACF and Ritchey–Chrétien optical systems. Correction lenses, "coma correctors" for Newtonian reflectors have been designed which reduce coma in newtonian telescopes. These work by means of a dual lens system of a plano-convex and a plano-concave lens fitted into an eyepiece adaptor which superficially resembles a Barlow lens.[1][2]


By Rawastrodata - Took the photos and edited in photoshop.Previously published: 

http://rawastrodata.com/pages/equipment.html, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24971290


See also:

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