OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site interferometer Principle of a radio interferometer An instrument, consisting of linked telescopes, which collects the electromagnetic radiation arriving from an astronomical object along two or more different paths and combines the results to form an interference pattern. The resulting resolution is much higher than that achievailable by the component telescopes working independently. Radio interferometers have been used widely in radio astronomy for many years; an example is the Very Large Array in New Mexico. More recently, optical interferometers have begun to play a major role in observational astronomy at visible wavelengths. The world's most powerful optical interferometer is the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope. Space-based optical interferometers are also planned, including Darwin and the Terrestrial Planet Finder. Related category    • OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP