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A comment on First light images emerge from Gemini Planet Imager. Parent comment

Re:First light images emerge from Gemini Planet Imager by ngoldbaum on Wednesday January 08, 2014 @12:15AM (#7021830)
It would probably be worse from space, actually. This was imaged at the diffraction limit of the telescope (~λ/D where D is the diameter of the mirror) and Gemini has an 8-meter mirror. We're not going to put an 8-meter IR telescope in space for a long time. Even JWST is only 4 meters.
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Re:First light images emerge from Gemini Planet Imager by merkitt on Wednesday January 08, 2014 @02:19AM (#7022218)
Is visible light interferometry possible with multiple small reflectors in orbit?
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Re:First light images emerge from Gemini Planet Imager by iwwr on Wednesday January 08, 2014 @02:37AM (#7022262)
It is, but the limit is your ability to cram it all that in a single rocket. It's why the James Webb needs foldable mirrors (JWST is made of small mirrors stuck together basically).

There have been a few proposals for in-space interferometers, but budgeting shot them down for the most part. In hindsight they may have been cheaper given the ballooning costs of JWST.

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Re:First light images emerge from Gemini Planet Imager by colkassad on Wednesday January 08, 2014 @02:41PM (#7025975)
That's very interesting, didn't know that. Thanks.
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