Home▸Physics & Mechanics▸Observatory Platform: Telescope Aperture & Exposure

Observatory Platform (2D): Alt-Az Sky Chart, Aperture & Exposure

Point a telescope at a 2D altitude-azimuth sky chart of magnitude-graded stars, a planet, a nebula and a comet, and see limiting magnitude, resolution, field of view and signal-to-noise update live from real observational-astronomy formulas.

Physics & Mechanics2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

Details

CategoryPhysics & Mechanics

RenderingCanvas 2D

DifficultyModerate

Target FPS60

ControlsDrag or click the alt-az sky chart (or use the azimuth/altitude sliders) to slew the telescope, set aperture, focal ratio, seeing and filter, then adjust exposure time (or scroll on the chart) to watch the limiting magnitude, resolution, field of view and live CCD signal-to-noise readouts update.

astronomytelescopeobservatorylimiting-magnitudeexposuresignal-to-noise2d

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A 2D companion to the 3D observatory: point a telescope reticle at a top-down altitude-azimuth sky chart seeded with a magnitude-graded star field, a planet, an emission nebula and a drifting comet. The same aperture, focal ratio, seeing, filter and exposure controls drive the same limiting-magnitude, resolution, field-of-view and signal-to-noise formulas, with a live simulated CCD readout showing the noise level actually implied by your settings.

⚙ Under the hood

Point a telescope reticle at a 2D altitude-azimuth sky chart of magnitude-graded stars, a planet, a nebula and a comet, and watch limiting magnitude, resolution, field of view and signal-to-noise update live from real observational-astronomy formulas.

astronomytelescopeobservatorylimiting-magnitudeexposuresignal-to-noise2d

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install